IA [WIP]: Storm Ravens (or Storm Blades, or Storm Fists?)

[shadowjester]

I have been working on my IA for my DIY chapter, which I've been working on for the past 14 years off and on, and finally feel like I have enough to submit it, at least as a WIP, to the humble brothers of Bolter and Chainsword to vet, critique, and explore. All constructive criticism is welcomed.

A bit of background before I put up the IA -- I had originally named my chapter The Storm Dragons, but given that at the time my painting skills and..ahem..."skill" at creating heraldry was not as developed (PM me if you want to see the colour scheme they originally had; it was as offensive to the eyes as only a 12 year old could make it). So into Pinesol they went (at the time, completely unfamiliar with the effects of Pinesol on plastic), and they emerged clean of the taint of the Dragon, and into their current, clean, and (above all else) simpler life as scions of the Raven (this was circa the IA article in White Dwarf for the Raven Guard, when they were specialists of the non-bike, non-mounted rapid deployment/alpha strike using Drop Pods and Jump Packs/Thunderhawks). When the Raven Guard were, in the 4th edition codex, retconned into being the sneaky-sneaky Marines they are now, I had struggled with reconciling the differences in combat specialization of my chapter and my (once) chosen primarch. Now that fluff has the Raven Guard continually under strength due to HH shenanigans, it's all but given the death knell for my chapter to be successors of Corax. And thus I've embarked on the search of a new Primarch.

Now, I feel my chapter is better suited to being sons of Dorn -- our tenacious, stubborn nature coupled with an affinity for holding the line (regardless of where that line happens to be) happens to fit very well. While we may not fit into the siege specialist role as easily as our golden-plated brethren, we do specialize in striking at heavily fortified targets swiftly and brutally. We prefer to be the first to the fight, striking hard and in force at the enemy's throat, and then hold the position for our other brethren to come in and clean up/fortify our position.

As such, I'm not sure about continuing the use of the moniker "The Storm Ravens" for my chapter. As much as I've loved it, I don't know if it continues to evoke the heritage and concept that my chapter is trying to live by and convey. I'm considering the Storm Fists or the Storm Blades, as both of those fit better with the Dornian heritage, but I'm still not sold. I've also written a considerable amount of my company's fluff around the brief mention of the Storm Ravens in the old Apocalypse book from 5th Edition, where Jagrveli Skyhammer of the Storm Ravens created the Suppression Force tactic, which is now a part of standard Codex Astartes operating procedure (I considered it to be a great honour to be named in a GW publication, even if it is largely coincidental).

Now, without further ado, the WIP IA.

[shadowjester]

The Storm Ravens

[/td][td=70%]CHAPTER NAME: ..............THE STORM RAVENS FOUNDING: ..................23rd [M37] CHAPTER WORLD: .............CRUSADING CHAPTER FORTRESS MONASTERY: ........The Tempest (Battle Barge) GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ...Crimson Fists KNOWN DESCENDANTS: .........None Known "Our faith in the Emperor will allow us to fly swift and true."

T

BW -- Chapter background and Overview

The Storm Ravens are a mildly divergent Codex Astartes Chapter, and follow the spirit of the tenets written in there with the same tenacity as their forebearers. They do tend to find themselves in more siege-assault focus, going after entrenched targets with drop pod and teleporter lightning strikes to key targets to weaken and shatter the defense, and then holding out long enough for their battle brothers with the heavy support to crush the remaining resistance. The honour of being Primo Pugnator is considered to be most high, and often companies on the Tempest, and their squads, compete to be first to the fight.

Typically, two companies share a battle barge, with the 1st Company and the chapter headquarters being on The Tempest, Eldest Brother Jagrveli Skyhammer's flagship and the Storm Ravens' fortress monastery. As each battle barge and the attached fleet remain on independent crusades, it is usually considered to be a rare occasion, and one of terrible portents, for every company to be reunited as one. There are typically between eight and twelve strike cruisers and dozens of rapid strike and insertion vessels accompanying each of the chapter's five battle barges on their crusade.

The Storm Ravens are mildly divergent from the Codex Astartes organization followed by many chapters: as they are a crusading chapter, with very little contact between chapter fleets, they lack the reserve companies dictated by the Codex and instead opted to have eight active battle companies divided into four Murders on the four battle barges (Coriolanus, The Valerian, The Andronicus, and Desdemona) aside from The Tempest. Each Murder is responsible for its own recruitment, which eliminates the standard 10th company. The Novice Brothers of the Murders are deployed separately from the Murders and the Battle Companies, instead being used to infiltrate and prepare new targets for a company's descent, or to keep an eye on populated systems surrounding the current Murder's target looking for signs of unrest or further recidivism and heresy. As such, it is extremely rare for novice Storm Ravens to come into contact with their elder brethren, except during the Feast of Crows.

Brother Vaer Windrider of the Storm Ravens 3rd Company

Elder Brother Raegar Airwalker of the Storm Ravens 1st Company

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ORGANIZATION
<<A paragraph or two on the Chapter's organization (short paragraph if Codex-adherent, longer if the Chapter has some degree of deviation)>>

<<Paragraphs to describe the key distinguishing characteristics of the Chapter>>

<<Paragraph to describe the Chapter’s fleet and combat organizations>>

<<Paragraph to describe the Chapter’s heraldry and appearance>>

SELECTED BATTLE HONORS <<include 1-3 of these>>
<<Battle/Operation/Campaign Name>> [###.M##]
<<A few paragraphs to describe the battle/operation/campaign and why it was notable for the Chapter>>

<<Battle/Operation/Campaign Name>> [###.M##][/b]
<<A few paragraphs to describe the battle/operation/campaign and why it was notable for the Chapter>>

<<Battle/Operation/Campaign Name>> [###.M##][/b]
<<A few paragraphs to describe the battle/operation/campaign and why it was notable for the Chapter>>

COMBAT SQUAD <<SQUAD NAME>>
<<#>><<RD/ST/TH>> <<BATTLE/RESERVE>> COMPANY

<<image URL>>

Veteran Sergeant <<(or other title)>> <<Sergeant's name>> Commander <<Tactical/Assault/Devastator/Scout>> Squad <<Sergeant’s name>> <<#>><<rd/st/th>> <<Battle/Reserve>> Company <<Chapter Name>> <<A few lines of information (make sure you hard return each line)>>

<<image URL>>

<<Chapter Name>> Chapter Icon Common Armorial Use

<<image URL>>

Brother <<(or other title)>> <<Battle-brother's name>> <<A few lines of information (make sure you hard return each line)>>

<<image URL>>

Brother <<(or other title)>> <<Battle-brother's name>> <<A few lines of information (make sure you hard return each line)>>

<<image URL>>

Brother <<(or other title)>> <<Battle-brother’s name>> <<A few lines of information (make sure you hard return each line)>>

<<image URL>>

Brother <<(or other title)>> <<Battle-brother's name>> <<A few lines of information (make sure you hard return each line)>>

[clearfloat]