Blood Ravens

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Blood Ravens
Battlecry White Dwarf:

Knowledge is power, Guard it well.
Dawn of War Novel:

For the Great Father and the Emperor
Colours Red and Parchment
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In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Blood Ravens are a chapter of Space Marines first featured in the computer game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and its three expansions. The Blood Ravens prize information greatly, but ironically know little of their earliest centuries of service. The Chapter also has a high concentration of powerful Librarians.

Contents

[edit] History

A typical Blood Raven armed with a Heavy Bolter.
A typical Blood Raven armed with a Heavy Bolter.

The Blood Ravens have been a part of the Imperium's defences for at least several thousand years, though their origins are shrouded in mystery and speculation, as the Chapter's origins are unknown even to themselves, including their founding Primarch (calling him instead the Unknown Primarch), Space Marine Legion and gene-seed. Because of this, they venerate the Emperor above all and the current shape of the Chapter has been influenced primarily by the Marine known as the "Great Father", Azariah Vidya, whom they respect as something of a Primarch figure.

The Blood Ravens have a reputation of being legendary scholars among the Adeptus Astartes; their mantra of ‘Knowledge is Power, Guard It Well’ is not just a saying, but a true and fervent belief, and their reputation is as impressive among the ranks of the Inquisition (who distribute research material and information to their chapter that ordinarily would never make it outside of the Inquisition), and several pure research orders in the Adepta Sororitas (who will often ‘loan’ a Sister for collaboration in a research project). This level of direct co-operation is almost unheard of within the Imperium, given the fierce mistrust between the Space Marines and the Ecclesiarchy, and the distrust with which the Inquisition regards even its own branch members. One major reason for such good relationships is their duel nation as scholars as much as warriors; while their faith in the Emperor and Imperium is as strong as any other Chapter, it is not blind. No matter how dire their numbers may dwindle, the Blood Ravens maintain only the highest possible standards in recruitment of new Marines, not daring to trust any then the most pure to the vast and secret knowledge they guard. In acknowledgement of this, all Blood Raven Neophites are offered a choice to stop their transformation into a Space Marine long after the point it would mean both their deaths and a waste of valuable material, to make sure that only those truly willing to withstand the pain and hardships of a Marines life will be allowed in.

The Blood Ravens also enjoy stronger relations with many of the Imperium's other power structures, as well as strong ties with other Chapters such as the Space Wolves, the Ultramarines, and the Black Dragons. However at times these relationships may be strained, when their methodical, scholarly and logical nature in battle clashes against the more impulsive brethren in other chapters. Indeed, in one engagement against the Thousand Sons, the Blood Ravens Librarian Urelie had almost come to blows with the Black Templars Chaplain Broec when the Chaplain accused Urelie of near Heresy with his persistent questioning and doubts, the Blood Ravens amazed and repulsed by the mindless, unquestioning and simple way in which the Templars embraced Imperial Dogma.

[edit] Azariah Vidya

Azariah Vidya (who later became known as the Great Father) was the Master of the Chapter Librarium during a terrible campaign in the Gothic sector, in which the Blood Ravens suffered terrible losses. During this campaign, the Chapter Master and the Master of Sanctity were killed in a trap, and it seemed that the Blood Ravens were finished.

Azariah was reputed to be a fiercely intelligent warrior, as well as burdened with the skill of the psyker. He spent much time studying the movements and reactions of the enemy, using the Imperial Guard and the remnants of his Chapter in a series of feinted attacks. Using this information, as well as his tremendous psychic powers, he then launched a series of raids against seemingly empty areas that turned out to be critical enemy staging areas.

For his skill in crushing the rebellion, Azariah was promoted to the office of Chapter Master while retaining his previous position. He led a program of healing and rebuilding, without which the Chapter would have long ago been destroyed. As much as any Blood Raven, Vidya was a great Scholar and wrote a great many works reflecting on both the history and future of the Chapter, which are debated vigorously by the Librarians and other Marines to this day.

[edit] Organization

The Blood Ravens follow the Codex Astartes in spirit, if not in letter. Although the squad mix within battle companies varies, the companies are organized on Codex lines.

The Blood Ravens are known for the large number of Librarians within the Chapter, many second in power and skill to only the Grey Knights. Within the Blood Ravens' Veteran Company, there are two squads composed entirely of Librarians, who deal with arcane and daemonic threats. How such vast numbers of psychically-talented marines come to be is unknown, but it is believed to be based on a combination of the Chapter's reverence for the Father Librarian, their recruitment process and - some say - their gene-seed. And as would be expected of a chapter that values knowledge so deeply; while the Librarians are valued for their formidable Psychic gifts they are just as -if not more so- valued for their scholarly prowess and role as guardians of knowledge for the Chapter.

Within the Chapter exists an organization known as the Ordos Psykana, which is solely comprised of Librarians. They maintain psychic beacons on the Chapter's battlebarges, first placed there by Azariah Vidya himself. The primary reason for these beacons is long lost to the Chapter; but it appears they were designed as a weapon against the Necrons and in imitation of the Infinity Circuits of the Eldar. They are also used to ritually summon the soul of a slain Blood Ravens Librarian before his physical remains are laid to rest. The Psykana maintains armories stacked with force weapons, many procured willingly from the Eldar, speaking of an ancient relationship between the Eldar and the chapter.

This in-depth knowledge of Chaos, high number of psykers, and vast stores of force weapons arguably makes the Blood Ravens second only to the Grey Knights in terms of anti-daemon tasking. In the computer game Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, a small task force of the Grey Knights is attached to the Blood Ravens by the Inquisition, for unknown reasons (For purposes of gameplay balance, if not that of storytelling.) However while the Grey Knights are anti-daemon specalists, the Blood Ravens are 'generalists', just as skillful fighting against Chaos as Eldar or Ork, Necron or Tau.

[edit] Homeworld

The Blood Ravens have no homeworld. Instead, their Fortress-Monastery is situated aboard the Battle Barge Omnis Arcanum, also home to their Librarium Sanctorum - reputed to be the largest repository of knowledge in the Imperium. The rest of the chapter serves aboard the chapter fleet of Strike Cruisers and Battle Barges, all of which contain extensive Librariums in their own right as would be expected of the Blood Ravens.

[edit] Recruitment

As the Blood Ravens have no homeworld, they draw on a series of worlds for new recruits. One of the more popular recruiting worlds was Cyrene, this however was before an Inquisitorial Exterminatus was carried out as told by Captain Gabriel Angelos. Another was the world Rahe's Paradise, however this planet also fell to an Inquisitorial Exterminatus because of a renewed Necron presence. The Blood Ravens also recruit from other parts of the Imperium unused by other chapters such as the Scholastica Psykana, with whom they hold an agreement to recruit a quota of psykers as potential Librarians.

[edit] 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 Brother-Librarian Lucius was seduced by the lure of the ruinous powers, and turned his fellow brethren to Chaos. This notion is by 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 armour suits. None either will, or can, reveal the reasons for this.

[edit] Battlecry

In the Index Astartes article (White Dwarf, 2004), the battlecry is: "Knowledge is power, guard it well!"

In the official Dawn of War novel (Goto, 2004), the Blood Ravens battlecry is: "For the Great Father and the Emperor!"

In Dark Crusade (2006) when the Blood Ravens defeat the Necrons the 2nd company adopts the battlecry: "Victory over death!"

[edit] Combat Doctrine

The Blood Ravens believe in studying their enemy before using this information to wipe them out. This approach to warfare draws criticism from several other chapters, but the same cannot be said when the Blood Ravens finally decide to launch into combat.

In battle, the Marines of the Chapter systematically destroy enemy units with ruthlessness and precision. They never vary in their battleplan nor have reason to, as the precognitive abilities of their Librarians will already have been employed to account for every possibility.

[edit] Fleet Disposition

While much is unknown about the true numbers of the Blood Ravens' fleet, it is known that it includes several Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers, as well having access to Thunderhawk Gunships and Transports. Known ships include the Battle Barges Litany of Fury and Omnis Arcanum (which, as mentioned before, also serves as the Chapter's Fortress-Monastery and houses the Librarium Sanctorum) as well as the Strike Cruisers Ravenous Spirit and Rage of Erudition.

[edit] Primogenitor Chapter

It is possible that the Blood Ravens were created using Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marine Legion, gene-seed. Although there are strong similarities between the two forces (high regard for knowledge, high number of Librarians), the theory has yet to be formally denied or confirmed. In Dawn of War, amnesiac Librarian Rhamah of the Blood Ravens' Ninth Company is accepted as a lost son by the Thousand Sons. Whether this is true or merely an elaborate ruse by Ahriman is never confirmed. Ahriman's knowledge of Azariah Vidya, however, lends a measure truth to the claim. Another strong point is the similarity of the planet Cyrene to the Thousand Sons' homeworld of Prospero, which had many psykers and mutant covens. Azariah Vidya himself came from Cyrene.

In the PC game Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade, the Blood Ravens, under Captain Davian Thule, are sent to the planet Kronus to purge the world and protect secrets that they believe hold the key to the chapter's past. Depending on who the player's choice of race, however, the narrator suggests the sacred relics on Kronus are tied to a dark origin for the chapter. If played as the forces of Chaos, there are several hints that the Blood Ravens are a splinter faction from the Word Bearers traitor legion. When victorious as the Blood Ravens, however, the narrator states that after the Dark Crusade, the chapter's darkest era is about to befall them. Other evidence come from the Horus Heresy series where the Word Bearers are known for being renowned scholars and seekers of knowledge - similar to the Blood Ravens.

In the PC Game Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War - Soulstorm, one of the pieces of wargear that Force Commander Indrick Boreale can gain is a melee weapon called Rogal's Fist, said to have been forged by the Primarch Rogal Dorn. If this is a chapter heirloom, it implies that the Blood Ravens are from the Imperial Fists gene-seed(although they are not noted for the same geneseed flaws Imperial Fists-descended chapters are known for). Boreale also leads five companies of Blood Ravens into battle, nearly half of a Codex chapter strength, but a reasonable amount for a "Crusading" chapter like the Black Templars...who are descended from the Imperial Fists.

[edit] Notable Blood Ravens

[edit] Gabriel Angelos

During the events of the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War video game and book, Brother-Captain Gabriel Angelos is the commander of the Blood Ravens' 3rd Company. He bears the honorific Commander of the Watch, and is the game's main character.

Like many Blood Ravens, Gabriel was born on the planet of Cyrene. Gabriel was an accomplished leader before he entered his teen years, and passed the Trials set by the Blood Raven Chaplains.

Many years later, with an entire company of Blood Ravens under his command, Gabriel returned to Cyrene to preside over the Trials. Gabriel found the seed of Chaos among the competitors, and ceased the trials immediately. He returned to his strike cruiser and sent a coded signal out-system. Within months of the signal, ships of the Imperial Inquisition and Navy appeared over Cyrene and carried out an Exterminatus, destroying all life on the planet. All records of the incident, and Gabriel's message to the Inquisition, have been sealed, but Gabriel carries the guilt of his actions to this day, particularly during the battles on the planet Tartarus.

A seemingly ordinary action against an Ork invasion became complicated with the appearance of Imperial Inquisitor Mordecai Toth, who inexplicably demands that the Blood Ravens leave the planet immediately. A Warp Storm is coming, and will engulf Tartarus in a few days: Against Toth's counsel, Gabriel continues investigating the planet, after discovering evidence of Eldar and Chaos involvement. He finds himself battling the Eldar of the Biel-Tan craftworld, led by Farseer Macha, blood cults of former Imperial Guardsmen who betrayed their comrades for the powers of Chaos, and the forces of the Alpha Legion, one of the Blood Ravens' greatest foes. Although he successfully tracks down the forces of chaos to where they attempt to release the Maledictum, his old friend and Brother-Librarian Isador Akios betrays the Blood Ravens for whispers from the Chaos sorcerer Sindri, telling how he could use the Maledictum for the good of the Imperium.

The enraged Gabriel hunts down the remaning forces of Chaos stationed to delay the Blood Ravens while Sindri ascends to a Daemon-Prince. When Gabriel and Isador meet in battle, Isador momentarily disables Gabriel and begins to curse him for being a murderer for ordering the Exterminatus on Cyrene, Gabriel yells out in renewed strength that "Innocents die so humanity can live!" and overcomes Isador in front of the loyal Blood Ravens, shooting him through the head. As he walks off, Gabriel yells out, "This is the fate of traitors: do not falter in your path, or I shall be ready to render you the same judgment!"

After which he tracks down Sindri and the remaining forces of Chaos and allies briefly with an Eldar strike force, but ends up releasing a Daemon that the Maledictum held inside. After confronting the daemon, Gabriel vows to destroy it.

Shortly after (in the events chronicled in Dawn Of War: Ascension (Goto, 2005)) Gabriel travels to the world of Rahe's Paradise, where he attempts to conduct the Blood Trials. At first all seems routine (save for Gabriel's premonitions of an Eldar invasion). But soon after the discovery of an ancient Eldar/Imperial tablet, things fall apart. Eldar Rangers conduct multiple hit-and-run attacks focusing exclusively on the chapter's psykers and the psykers among the Trial aspirants, and Gabriel meets Farseer Macha once more. She reveals that they killed the psykers to prevent the breaking of Lsantril's Shield; A device giving the illusion of a large Eldar psychic presence on the planet. This, she argues, will prevent the awakening of the Necrons hidden under the planet's surface, as they would slumber as long as they believed that their ancient foes still dominate the galaxy. All is not lost, however, until a space battle destroys the Spirit Pool of the Dark Reaper aspect, the psychic scream of the lost souls shatters Lsantril's Shield and wakes the Necrons. Gabriel orders the planet's destruction, and leaves for the threatened planet of Lorn V with the surviving aspirants.

On arrival at Lorn V, Gabriel makes contact with the single Eldar survivor of the battle, Farseer Taldeer, who has been seeking him since he teleported aboard the Litany of Fury battlebarge. Ignoring accusations of heresy from Captain Ulantis of the Ninth Company, Taldeer convinces Gabriel to join forces with her and enter a tear within the webway, made by the Librarian Rhamah during Dawn Of War: Ascension. This will lead them to the world of Arcadia, where they will find the last Blade of Vaul to use against the waking Necrons. On the planet, Gabriel is given the blade by the Eldar Harlequins after a battle with the Thousand Sons, who are led by Ahriman himself. Gabriel gives the blade to Macha on returning to Lorn V. With the last Blade of Vaul, Macha destroys the Necrons completely, but is not heard from afterwards. Gabriel continues his command of Captain of the Watch, and meets the newly transformed Ckrius Quirus, whom the Blood Ravens recruited from Tartarus.

In the Dawn of War novels, especially Dawn of War: Ascension and Dawn of War: Tempest, Gabriel seems to share a mysterious bond with the Eldar of Biel-tan, particularly that of Farseer Macha. Despite the condemnation and threats from his fellow commanders, the Inquisition, the Adepta Sororitas, and his friend Isador Akios, Gabriel is stubborn in his attempts to assist the Eldar and Macha. The Harlequins of Arcadia refer to him as "Gabriel of the Hidden Heart," and remark that he is a symbol of hope for the Eldar in human form.

In the UK edition of White Dwarf (issue 305), Gabriel Angelos is referred to as the Blood Ravens' Chapter Master. The Truth of the matter was that Gabriel was the Chapter Master, but in the absence of a Master of the Arsenal, so to speak a Captain of the 3rd company's title, he took command of the dreaded "3rd Company".

[edit] Davian Thule

Brother-Captain Davian Thule is the leader of the Space Marine force, consisting of three Blood Raven companies (1st, 2nd and 4th), sent to Kronus during the Kronus Dark Crusade. Despite sharing the same ship (the Battle Barge Litany of Fury) as Captain Gabriel Angelos, the commander of the 3rd company is nowhere to be seen. When Thule arrives on the planet, he sends a message to Governor-Militant Lukas Alexander to evacuate all civilians and personnel and allow the Blood Ravens to begin their purge of the planet. However, Alexander refuses, and the Blood Ravens must fight the other soldiers of the Imperium. Thule regrets having to kill his fellow brothers-in-arms, but reasons that orders are orders - Kronus must be purged. At this time, not much is known of him other than his rank, though one of the Dark Crusade skirmish maps suggests Thule was essential in the banishing of a Greater Daemon while he was still an Initiate. Thule is armed with a standard-issue Chainsword and Bolt Pistol at the campaign's start. When fully upgraded, he carries a Daemonhammer and a Meltagun, as well as heavily ornate Artificier Armour with a backpack-mounted teleporter.

When the Blood Ravens finish off the other six races in Dark Crusade, they collect the spoils of war and preserve their secret relics on the planet. The Inquisition (in the form of Inquisitor Mordecai Toth) arrives to question their actions, but the Blood Ravens' commanding officers turn the interrogations aside by claiming they were merely 'following orders' from their Chapter Master. The narrator states that the darkest time for the Chapter will begin after the conclusion of the Dark Crusade. The survivors of the shattered 1st Kronus Imperial Guard Regiment harbour a deep hatred for the Blood Ravens, even though Thule arranges safe transport for the Guardsmen who fought against his Marines, and the Blood Ravens Chaplain honours the dead body of Governor-Militant Alexander for following his orders so fervently. They also, however, execute every one of the soldiers of the Kronus 1st Regiment 5th Company for rebelling against the rest of their regiment.

If another race successfully captures the Blood Raven Stronghold in North Vandea, the game shows Captain Thule lying on the ground dying, as Chaplain Reclusiarch Mikelus of the Blood Ravens 1st Company orders an Apothecary to take him back to the Litany of Fury and retrieve his gene-seed before calling down an orbital strike, effectively destroying the remaining Marines and the invading army's soldiers. The narrator then states that the slain Marines' gene-seed could not be recovered, so delivering a major blow to the chapter. If the player defeats the Blood Ravens as the Imperial Guard, it states the the orbital strike covers up much of the chapter's relics, but leaves some intact. The Imperial Guard report this to the Inquisition, who start investigating the Blood Ravens.

[edit] Indrick Boreale

Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale is the Force Commander of the Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Soulstorm. Having studied under Gabriel Angelos, Boreale leads no less than five Blood Raven companies into battle, and favors a tactic called "Steel Rain": he keeps entire companies in reserve on his Battlebarge, and has his men in space launch drop pods filled with soldiers, allowing him to take land quickly and put pressure on his enemies. As a result, he does not make much use of static defensive structures like turrets.

During the Kaurava Conflict, he was forced to battle against fellow Imperial forces like Sisters of Battle and the 252nd Conservator Regiment of the Imperial Guard due to conflicting interest and each of them acting on their own (such as Canoness Selina Agna's purgation crusade on the Kaurava System). However, after his victory against the Sisters of Battle, Indrick Boreale ordered his Blood Ravens to provide medical aid to the surviving Sisters and arranged transports to ferry them back to the Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII at the mercy of the Inquisition.

The 252nd Conservator Regiment were less fortunate, as their commander - General Vance Stubbs - was suspected for causing the Soul Storm in the Kaurava system, thus giving the Blood Ravens the authority to attack them, unlike fellow Brother-Captain Davian Thule's previous Dark Crusade campaign where Blood Raven had slightly tarnished their reputation by attacking their fellow Imperials. Still, the Blood Ravens provided medical aid to any surviving Guardsmen and treated them as brothers in arms, but unfortunately most of them were later interrogated by Inquisitors in Segmentum Command for their involvement of the Kaurava Conflict - many didn't survive the interrogation.

When all other factions are defeated in Soulstorm, the Blood Ravens will take control of the Kaurava system and train a new PDF Regiment to better protect the system. The system will adopt a new name - "Borealum", in honor of Captain Indrick Boreale's deceisive victory in the Kaurava campaign.

[edit] Brother Captain Hyrcleon

The Captain of the Fifth Company, he was only mentioned in How to Paint Space Marines.

[edit] Reclusiarch Mikelus

Although not well documented, Mikelus is a high-ranked Chaplain who takes orders from the Chapter-Master himself. His most recent assignment was to provide spiritual encouragement to Davian Thule's forces on Kronus.

First Chaplain Reclusiarch Mikelus is second only to the Master of Sanctity himself within the Blood Ravens. He is a hulking figure in Terminator armour, armed with a battleaxe inscribed with the Emperor's blessing, and with a storm bolter. Mikelus is renowned among the Blood Ravens for his charming personality and almost insane devotion to the Imperium. There have been doubts in the past if his devotion is true to the Emperor. If asked such a question, Mikelus ironically responds, "Yes, and I'm the Primarch." Mikelus has a particular loathing for the alien Tau, whom he sees as foolish and naive.

Towards the end of the Dark Crusade on Kronus, should the Blood Raven forces on the planet be defeated in the campaign, Chaplain Mikelus meets his end during the Blood Ravens' last stand in North Vandea.

After Captain Davian Thule falls in combat, he orders Apothecary Gordian to take Thule's body back to the Litany of Fury and to retrieve his gene-seed. As the last Thunderhawk Transport pulls away from the doomed stronghold, Chaplain Mikelus orders an Orbital Strike on his location, in an attempt to destroy several incriminating Blood Raven artifacts. In the resulting strike, Mikelus is killed, along with the few remaining Blood Raven marines, and the invading forces' soldiers.

His and the remaining Marines gene-seeds could not be recovered. This became a fatal blow to the Blood Ravens chapter.

[edit] Epistolary Anteas

A Senior Librarian regarded highly by the Chapter-Master, his most recent task is to gather technology and remains of defeated enemies after battles during the Dark Crusade for research. This includes pieces of the shattered Avatar of Khaine, defeated during the Blood Ravens' assault on the Eldar on Kronus - which he defeated in single combat.

Known as "Pistol-Mind" because of his excellent skill with firearms as much as his piercing intellect, Anteas became famed during the Cillawynd Crusade against the Black Legion Chaos Space Marines. Anteas's critical flank attack on the opposing army was at first seen as reckless, but it began to tell that Anteas had struck at his foe's weak point at the right time, a feat of precision he is honoured for even today, even among the precisionist Blood Ravens. Shortly after the Cillawynd Crusade ended in victory for the Blood Ravens and the Imperium, Anteas was elevated to the rank of Epistolary. The artifacts he found on Cillawynd may have led to the Kronus Dark Crusade. The Black Legion have sworn to place Anteas' head on a pike, but "Pistol-Mind" knows no fear, and trusts in his bolt pistol, power sword, and brain to continue the fight.

[edit] Apothecary Gordian

Gordian was the personal Apothecary to Captain Thule during the Dark Crusade on Kronus.

If the Blood Ravens win, it is said he was responsible for collecting the corpses of the slain Eldar and Tau for further analysis.

If the Blood Ravens stronghold is captured, Gordian recovers Captain Thule's body and evacuates on a Thunderhawk transport.

[edit] Archarius Ravenholm

The current Chapter Master of the Blood Ravens. Known to be a powerful psyker.

[edit] Colours and Iconography

The Blood Ravens of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Companies wear dark red armour with brown-black trim, red eye lenses and parchment coloured shoulder armour. The 3rd Company wear more lightly-coloured armour and have green eye lenses. The Chapter symbol is a silhouetted raven in flight, as seen from above, incorporated with a stylized drop of blood below its wings. Another symbol is the Book of Unknown History that resembles an open book.

[edit] References

Languages