Shadow Falcons - Raven Guard Successors

[KroSha]

Whilst going through some very old data on a couple of old HDDs, I found this; the chapter I created years ago, whilst working at GW. As it isn't included in your Index, I thought I'd post it here, for completeness sake. I still have the minis somewhere, and may even go back to painting, as a lifestyle change is on the cards.

 

This was 2001, so the rules were 3rd Ed. The Raven Guard were undefined; the game devs hadn't written anything official and all there was available was the name, the Primarch and the colour scheme. The, now enormous, body of work detailing the Horus Heresy didn't exist, even the dates were hazy. There were no details on the process of Chapter Foundings, other than that they were only approved by the High Lords. We knew that the majority of post-Heresy Chapters were Ultramarine stock, as their geneseed is the most stable. The Blood Angels and Space Wolves were on the "Do Not Use" list because of mutation dangers; whether Red Thirst or Wulfen. The only detailed source on Imperial Fists or Astartes training came from the distinctly dodgy novel "Space Marine". This battle-barge sized hole in the background gave me as much license as I needed to make up pretty much anything I wanted. I'm particularly happy with the detail that existing veterans from the progenitor Chapters were drafted in to form the core of the new Chapter's officers. Many others liked this idea when I first posted it on the, now also defunct, Portent forums. 

 

There is more here, including the 3rd Ed. special rules. The photos were featured in CJ #45, for which I wrote an article on DIY creation. The green of the trim isn't quite so nuclear in the flesh either. For some reason, they look better on Wordpress than here.

 

The Shadow Falcons Adeptus Astartes

 

Belt & shoulder trim show the company colour.

 

Right pad & belt in Veteran White.

 

 

 

History, Compliance and Founding

 

The Ancient Legends (annotated by Legion scribe Melius, 874.M30)

In the beginning the world (Hellenius III, Homeworld of the Shadow Falcons­­­) span through the firmament around its star and no creature crawled or bird flew. Then the Graceful Ones came. They caused the sky to bring forth water and the land to produce plants. They built their cities and lived among the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. (This refers to the Terraforming of the planet by aliens unknown. Certainly no known technology, even the Eldar at the height of their power before the Fall, could create a habitable planet from a barren rock. There are few relics of this civilisation left on the planet, and the known ones have defied analysis.) For millennia they lived and created wonders beyond the mind of Man. Then they left. (There is no apparent reason for the departure of these unknowns.)

 

Then Man came (the expansion of the Dark Time of Technology) in his ships. He found the preserved cities of the Graceful Ones and marvelled at their beauty. Many of the relics could be used to ease the hardships of the early years, and the People were grateful. The Council added to the knowledge of the settlers and the People spread across the planet. (This is the period of expansion following first discovery and settlement by pre-Imperial Terrans. These settlers had a STC civilisation, which they built around the ruins of the previous occupants.)

 

Then The Dark Time came. (The Age of Strife.) Isolated and alone the People struggled to remain. None could leave, for the ships could not see their way. None came and the People grew afraid. (The warp storms caused by the Fall of the Eldar and Hellenius’ proximity to the resulting Eye of Terror isolated the planet for thousands of years.) Then, searching the sky for signs and portents, the People saw their DOOM. A white star grew brighter in the heavens. It moved slowly, but grew until there were two suns in the sky. The Sun burned yellow and warm, but the Stranger was hot and so bright that true darkness never fell on the surface. (This can only be assumed to be Hellenius Minor, the smaller of the binary stars. Older legends make no mention of two suns in this system, and it is possible that this smaller sun was captured by the gravitational field of Hellenius Major.) The planet shook with the force of this EVENT. Many died as the cities of Man and the Graceful Ones were reduced to rubble. The seas rushed north and froze as the suns raced through the sky south to burn the lands to desert. The mountains fell and rose and men and beasts starved and died. (Such an event would have caused immense changes to the planet’s climate and tectonics. Earthquakes and tidal waves would ravage much of the surface. The change in tidal forces has undoubtedly been responsible for the bizarre geography of Hellenius III.)

 

The Stranger stood in the sky, alone or with the Sun, and cursed the seed of the planet. Many children of the People were born twisted and dead. Others had a strangeness of limb. A few were strong in their minds, and could do that which others could not. (The strong high spectrum radiation of Hellenius Minor causes physical and mental mutation.) Many of the Altered banded together, forming Cabals to influence the decisions of the Elders of each settlement. Then disaster struck. One of the Altered, Mercturion, called on the favour of the Dark Spirits. In the midst of heated argument with his Elder, he spoke a Word of Power and slew the Elder. Taking control of his tribe, the Mountain Tigers, he declared war on all others and vowed to kill any that would not bow to him.

 

The other tribes, seeing that Mercturion had Powers, met in Gathering and debated how to control the Mountain Tigers. Some shouted that Mercturion was the leader to re-unite the tribes that had been sundered at the time of the EVENT, as was foretold. All the Altered of the tribes saw a fellowship in the Mountain Tigers and resolved to join them. Others decried his cruelty and ambition, refusing to submit to such a despot. The Gathering dissolved with no clear consensus, some leaving to swear fealty to Mercturion. Most allied against his demand and girded themselves for war.

 

Imperial Records (Based on the journals of our Noble Primarch Corax)

 

873.M30

At this point the forces of the Divine Emperor arrived in the form of the Raven Guard legion of Imperial Space Marines. They landed south of the Great Barrier Range, close to the largest concentration of settlements. Revered Corax himself led the expedition to show our world the light of the Emperor, and deliver the tribes from the Dark Ones. He descended to our world with but one squad of his Honour Guard, to sway the People himself.

 

Blessed Corax first met the Elders of the Black Wolf tribe. They, in their folly, had sworn allegiance to Mercturion, and would not countenance the rule of an Emperor from beyond the stars. Corax, in his wisdom, left them to find others who would listen. Father knew that forceful conquest would be necessary, but resolved to convert the People by strength of heart, not arms, where possible.

 

Many were the tribes who turned our beloved Father away. Joyfully, still more joined him gladly. The tribes of Running Horse, Grey Cat, Blue Water, Great Lake, Rocky Peak and Great Hawk were among the first to swear to the Holy Emperor. These aided Great Corax by guiding him to the other tribes, sending delegates and providing Father with lodgings and succour.

 

Finally, Father came to the Mountain Tigers. Immediately, our Primarch drew his sword and attacked the Altered. As Mercturion’s head leapt from his shoulders, Father called on the massed Legion overhead. He had been unaware of the mutations our world harboured and knew too well the Damnation they could bring. As the dropships landed, those Elders who had aided beloved Corax begged for his mercy in the name their newly accepted Emperor.

 

Corax relented and spared the tribes that had shown him hospitality. His fury to those that had turned him away was unbridled. The pogrom against the Altered and their allies was short and bloody. In the end the mutants had been destroyed and the People were pronounced clean.

 

874.M30

Once the People had been guided to the Emperor’s light, the Raven Guard commenced to explore the world they had subdued. Using guides from the various tribes, they discovered valuable marvels.

 

The guides were able to show them the original human cities, long since destroyed by the EVENT. The Legion was aghast at the wealth of STC Template technology they found on such a primitive planet. Even though the skills required to use the STC sources had been forgotten by the People, the automated libraries were still at least partially functional.

 

If the libraries were astounding, the Raven Guard were awe-struck by the ruined cities of the Graceful Ones. Within, where the People would not explore, enormous arsenals of Force weapons were found. On further investigation, the Space Marines found the remains of an extensive mine network. The Graceful Ones had been extracting the minerals of the mountain to create the crystal psi-matrix. Chief Librarian Ceres pronounced the quality of the weapons excellent. The amount of power storage of these matrices was immense. The weapons were immediately appropriated by the Legion to aid the Great Crusade.

 

874.M30 Compliance of Hellenius complete

The Raven Guard Legion, having secured the system for the Imperium, left to continue the Crusade.

 

221.M33 Founding of the Shadow Falcons Adeptus Astartes.

After approval of the High Lords, the Adeptus Terra finished the geneseed replication of the Raven Guard Chapter to allow our own Chapter to be created. Ranking officers and veterans of the Raven Guard, Raptors and Revilers were transferred to Hellenius to form the main core of the new Chapter. The highest mountain, Eyrie, had been prepared as the Fortress Monastery, and First Company Captain Marko Ramoas of the Raven Guard was elevated to the position of Chapter Master.

 

Chapter Disposition

 

Genesis

The Shadow Falcons Adeptus Astartes were founded in 221.M33 after 63 years of gene culturing by the Adeptus Terra. They are successors to the Raven Guard Legion of Space Marines, who claimed the planet Hellenius III for the Emperor during the Great Crusade in M30. Many Veterans and Officers of the Raven Guard, Revilers and Raptors Space Marine Chapters were commissioned to form the backbone of the new Chapter. First Company Captain Marko Ramoas of the Raven Guard was appointed Chapter Master in 223.M33.

 

Tactical Disposition

The Shadow Falcons are a Codex Chapter, which adheres to the Index Astartes as laid down by Roboute Guilliman. They have no major organisational differences from the Ultramarines Chapter and no particular preferences for tactics or weapons.

 

Librarians

The major difference from other Chapters comes from the quality of their Librarians. Due to the large number of psykers on their world, the Shadow Falcons can afford to pick the best of them for indoctrination into the Chapter. This means that there are more Librarians in the Chapter than one would normally expect. Junior Lexicanium are expected to serve with a company for much of their early training and usually form a part of the Company Command. This training is overseen by the Epistolary attached to the Company by the Chief Librarian. After they have mastered control of their abilities in battle, they can be promoted to Codicier and join the main Librarius.
The other advantage that the Shadow Falcons Librarians have is their weapons. The large deposits of minerals in the mountains are ideally suited to the manufacture of high quality psi-matrices for Force weapons. These are mined in limited quantities to supply only the local systems and the Inquisition. As payment the Shadow Falcons are gifted with any Force weapons that they need. These are always of the highest quality and workmanship. The Inquisition also allows the Shadow Falcons access to Psycannon rounds to aid in the defeat of Chaos.

 

The Inquisition

The Ordo Hereticus has a permanent agent in place on Hellenius III. This individual is responsible for the screening of the psykers gathered from the population. In addition to the Shadow Falcons, the Grey Knights Adeptus Astartes have found Hellenius III to be a fertile recruitment ground.

Home-world

 

Geography

Hellenius III is a singular planet. Located on the northern edge of the Segmentum Solar, it is a habitable planet in a stable binary system. The planet’s axis of rotation is only 15º elevated from the plane of orbit. This has resulted in the polarisation of the climate. The Brightside pole is a burning desert of blasted rock and bleached dirt. Conversely, the Darkside pole is a frozen wasteland that never sees either Sun. Along the equator runs the Great Barrier Range: a mountain range that divides Brightside from Darkside. Along each side of the mountains, although more on Brightside, is the fertile green strip of land that the People live in.

 

Lifeforms

The majority of the animals on the planet are Old Earth stock, brought by the original settlers. Several of these are somewhat Altered by the effects of the Stranger. Many of the predators are far larger and more aggressive than their ancestors. Some have evolved along unique lines to fit a specific habitat. Lifeforms of note are: the Sandtrapper, which is a solar powered predator of the desert; the Whooper, which is a forest dwelling simian; the Black Mountain Snarlcat, which inhabits the lower slopes of the Barrier Range and the Shadow Falcons, rare birds of prey that have grown to extreme size in the most isolated areas of the mountains.

 

The People

The original settlers became nomads during the Dark Time following the EVENT that ravaged the planet. They remain in a semi-fuedal state that has little technology. The Shadow Falcons provide most of the items that they do have. Since the destruction of the Altered by Corax, the People cull the mutants that they birth willingly. Psykers are harder to spot and they receive aid from their Imperial masters.

 

The Shadow Falcons

The Shadow Falcons Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes are the overlords of the entire Hellenius system. They maintain a Fortress Monastery on Eyrie, the largest mountain in the Great Barrier Range on Hellenius III. The planet is occupied solely due to the large deposits of minerals in the mountains, which can be used to manufacture psi-matrices of the highest quality. These can then be incorporated into weapons and armour suitable for the psykers of the Imperium.

 

As Imperial overlords, the Space Marines are responsible for the purity of the planet. The radiation from Hellenius Minor has a mutating effect on the population of the planet. As many as 4% of the births are mutants. Of these, a full quarter are psykers. This large proportion is potentially very dangerous and is rigorously suppressed. The physical mutants are put down at birth, and all children are watched to detect any with psychic abilities. To aid in this, there is always an Inquisitor on the planet. This person guests in Eyrie and heads the collection of all psykers from the People. The psykers are gathered in a containment facility buried near the Brightside pole. This camp is warp shielded to prevent daemonic interference and situated underneath the middle of a lethal desert. The Shadow Falcons test any psykers of suitable age and recruit any that are strong enough in mind, body and heart. The rest go to the Black Ships, which arrive every decade.

 

To maintain their links with the People, any Initiates who fail through no fault of their own (such as genetic incompatibility with the geneseed), are set to the tribes to rule them in the name of the Emperor. These individuals are prepared by the Chaplains to act as secular and religious rulers. Each undergoes hypnotic instruction in the care and use of the few items of equipment that they will take. The new Headman replaces any older ruler who is freed to return Eyrie or become a hermit in the mountains, as each will. The Headman is responsible for the conduct of the tribe, the control of mutation and the gathering of psykers. As Headmen return to the chapter, they are used to run the training facilities and aid in the selection of Candidates.

 

Initiates are constantly scouted for by the Headmen and are only selected after the most rigorous of scrutiny. Each Candidate must attract the notice of a Headman, then impress him enough to earn the right to be tested. If the Headman deems the potential worthy (no mean feat in itself), he must then travel on foot to the Eyrie. This journey is perilous in the extreme and only the brave, hardy and luckily can hope to succeed. On arrival the youth will be further tested and screened by the Apothecaries and Chaplains before acceptance to the Neophytes.

 

 

[chaplain belisarius]

thanks for posting this...really brought back memories...i remember the article but dont remember them being so necron green! :)

[KroSha]

dont remember them being so necron green! :)

They aren't! Something happened during the upload that really brightened the pics. The originals are a much more muted, Goblin Green.

[KroSha]

Added updated armour graphic.

[chaplain belisarius]

thought they had red trim...or am i losing my marbles?

 

how you finding the new edition-complicated, isnt it? :)

[KroSha]

thought they had red trim...or am i losing my marbles?

how you finding the new edition-complicated, isnt it?

I went for 3rd Company, as I liked the colour balance better than the other colours. So green trim, bolter casings and belts.

I've had a quick flick through 6th Ed. My first thought was "How many special rules?" Things were simpler in my day.

Any more C&C?

[Wulfkry]

i remember seeing these guys back when i first got into this nice to see their are getting some attention. Id only ask for more background fluff!!

[chaplain belisarius]

flyers are a cool idea (i want two stormravens!) but in the rules they seem a bit of a gamble...im still finding my way around the new rules to be honest! :)

[KroSha]

I have a flyer; an original metal Thunderhawk! Ok, it's still in bits and I've lost most of the paperwork. One day I'll complete it fully.

[Octavulg]

There is more here, including the 3rd Ed. special rules. The photos were featured in CJ #45, for which I wrote an article on DIY creation.

I'd be interested in seeing that article, if one were to perhaps have a copy lying around somewhere.

The green of the trim isn't quite so nuclear in the flesh either.

I'd never seen neon black until those photos.

In the beginning the world (Hellenius III, Homeworld of the Shadow Falcons­­­) span through the firmament around its star and no creature crawled or bird flew. Then the Graceful Ones came. They caused the sky to bring forth water and the land to produce plants. They built their cities and lived among the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. (This refers to the Terraforming of the planet by aliens unknown. Certainly no known technology, even the Eldar at the height of their power before the Fall, could create a habitable planet from a barren rock. There are few relics of this civilisation left on the planet, and the known ones have defied analysis.) For millennia they lived and created wonders beyond the mind of Man. Then they left. (There is no apparent reason for the departure of these unknowns.)

Personally, I find the parentheses jarring as hell. Footnotes might work better, for all that they're a pain. That, or one could do a REALLY long sidebar to serve as marginal notes.

Also, habitable planet from barren rock sounds, at least theoretically, to be the sort of thing that would be possible for the Eldar or DAoT humanity.

Then disaster struck. One of the Altered, Mercturion, called on the favour of the Dark Spirits. In the midst of heated argument with his Elder, he spoke a Word of Power and slew the Elder. Taking control of his tribe, the Mountain Tigers, he declared war on all others and vowed to kill any that would not bow to him.

I find Mercturion to be a tricky name. I keep thinking it should be Mercution or Mercurion.

The Shadow Falcons are a Codex Chapter, which adheres to the Index Astartes as laid down by Roboute Guilliman. They have no major organisational differences from the Ultramarines Chapter and no particular preferences for tactics or weapons.

Codex Astartes, not Index.

The major difference from other Chapters comes from the quality of their Librarians. Due to the large number of psykers on their world, the Shadow Falcons can afford to pick the best of them for indoctrination into the Chapter.

Librarian recruitment has fairly high standards - so you might have more, but everyone takes only the best.

The original settlers became nomads during the Dark Time following the EVENT that ravaged the planet.

Remain indoors.

To maintain their links with the People, any Initiates who fail through no fault of their own (such as genetic incompatibility with the geneseed), are set to the tribes to rule them in the name of the Emperor. These individuals are prepared by the Chaplains to act as secular and religious rulers. Each undergoes hypnotic instruction in the care and use of the few items of equipment that they will take. The new Headman replaces any older ruler who is freed to return Eyrie or become a hermit in the mountains, as each will. The Headman is responsible for the conduct of the tribe, the control of mutation and the gathering of psykers. As Headmen return to the chapter, they are used to run the training facilities and aid in the selection of Candidates.

Do they return to their own tribes or to others?

* * *

It's neat. It hasn't aged as badly as you suggested, IMO. Were you planning on further development?

[KroSha]

 

I'd be interested in seeing that article, if one were to perhaps have a copy lying around somewhere

It's over on the wordpress blog, here : http://wp.me/PUBY9-88 I have a PDF of the full CJ if you want the published format.

 

 

I'd never seen neon black until those photos.

I do not know what happened with the upload! None of the other copies that I view look like this. Again, look on wordpress.

 

 

Personally, I find the parentheses jarring as hell. Footnotes might work better, for all that they're a pain. That, or one could do a REALLY long sidebar to serve as marginal notes.

Agreed. But this was written before word processors did HTML, and I hand to code everything by hand. I didn't know how to do footnotes at the time. When I do some cleanup, I'll change them.

 

 

Also, habitable planet from barren rock sounds, at least theoretically, to be the sort of thing that would be possible for the Eldar or DAoT humanity

The key word is "known". I'm assuming that a lot of the DAoT stuff has been forgotten, as evidenced by the Crusade's obsession with STC and reclaiming habitable worlds. I'll probably take out the reference to the Eldar, as they were less known at the time.

 

 

Codex Astartes, not Index

Ta. Should have spotted that.

 

 

Librarian recruitment has fairly high standards - so you might have more, but everyone takes only the best

This was a mechanism to get more Librarians in the list. At the time, there was only one flavour, and I wanted Junior Lexicanium as a part of the Command Squad and an Epistolary as the Commander. I'll keep it in, as I like it, and I'm also considering adding a detail where they have repeated encounters with the Thousand Suns, who keep trying to nick Force Weapons.

 

 

Remain indoors

Eathquakes, floods, dogs and cats living together; mass hysteria! The natural disaster was powerful enough to wreck the human cites, and reduce the population to a remnant.

 

 

Do they return to their own tribes or to others?

Probably others. External authority has more weight.

 

 

Were you planning on further development?

Oh yes. I'll make some changes and write more when I have time.

[Octavulg]

I do not know what happened with the upload! None of the other copies that I view look like this. Again, look on wordpress.

I have. I kind of like the neon version, though. They won't need to carry light sources on stealth missions.

Agreed. But this was written before word processors did HTML, and I hand to code everything by hand. I didn't know how to do footnotes at the time. When I do some cleanup, I'll change them.

Keep in mind that the B&C uses BBCode, which does its own thing.

The key word is "known". I'm assuming that a lot of the DAoT stuff has been forgotten, as evidenced by the Crusade's obsession with STC and reclaiming habitable worlds. I'll probably take out the reference to the Eldar, as they were less known at the time.

True enough. But while the "how" might be forgotten, the thing itself would seem likely to be remembered, if you follow.

This was a mechanism to get more Librarians in the list. At the time, there was only one flavour, and I wanted Junior Lexicanium as a part of the Command Squad and an Epistolary as the Commander. I'll keep it in, as I like it, and I'm also considering adding a detail where they have repeated encounters with the Thousand Suns, who keep trying to nick Force Weapons.

Oh, keep the scads of Librarisn. I just think that it's an easy fix to bring you into accordance with modern 40K. Your guys have more Librarians because they have more good psychics, rather than more Librarians because they have more psychics overall and so can be pickier and get more. If you follow.

Probably others. External authority has more weight.

True. I'd say "son returning to his own tribe having been touched by the Sky-Gods" has more cachet than the alternative, but either works.

Oh yes. I'll make some changes and write more when I have time.

Dandy. Anything in particular you're after, then?

[War Angel]

 

dont remember them being so necron green! :)

They aren't! Something happened during the upload that really brightened the pics. The originals are a much more muted, Goblin Green.

You should paint more so that we can see them in all their glory.... While you're at it, you may as well enter them in ETL....

[Octavulg]

Subtle.

[KroSha]

You should paint more so that we can see them in all their glory.... While you're at it, you may as well enter them in ETL....

I have more. These were just the guys painted for the Crusade army and photographed for the CJ article. I forget exactly, but there's a couple more Tactical, an assault squad, Whirlwind and a Chaplain for sure. There's also a Company planned, sprayed and partially assembled!

[War Angel]

Oh cool. You should still paint more and join the ETL challenge.... We must win!!!!

[KroSha]

Added Painter colour schemes. White / blue patches are spec at #ccffff, roughly a whitened Ice Blue.