Periculum in Tenebris - DIY Raven Guard Successors

[Arendious]

In preparation for the upcoming ETL, and having finally made some progress on the fluff front, I thought I would start up a work log to display the models I've been working on at a glacial pace. 

 

So, to dive right in - a little background...

 

Origins

      

        As recorded by the Administratum, the Umbral Owls chapter of the Adeptus Astartes was founded during the 22^nd Founding.  Constituted as a fleet-based chapter using Iron Hands gene-stock, the Owls were sent to reconquer sectors surrounding the galactic core that had been lost during the turmoil of the Age of Apostasy.

 

        As with much of the Imperium’s history, this appears to be a lie.

 

        Many sections of the Chapter’s record are copied whole cloth from other chapters, or even from non-Astartes formations.  Three, mutually-exclusive, lists of Chapter Masters exist, including one which consists primarily of holo-opera singers popular during M37.

 

        Despite numerous requests the chapter’s historians to correct these glaring errors, the discrepancies persist.  Most notably, a delegation from the chapter travelled to Terra in 801.M41 to formally petition for an audit and correction of the chapters records.  This resulted in more errors rather than improvement.  Entire campaigns were erased from the chapters’ battle honors, other unrelated campaigns were added.  Most inexplicably, the dreadnought, Ancient Trigathon, was retroactively listed as being lost in action two centuries prior, despite his personal testimony being a prominent segment of the chapter’s formal petition.

 

        Internal chapter histories tell a far different story.

 

        The first claimed battle honor of the chapter lies at the heart of the Owls Reliquary atop a featureless iridium altar.  A combat knife of a simple pattern issued to many of the early Terran Legionnaires, tied about the hilt with the shipping tag for a crate of fragmentation grenades.  In neat hand-written script, said to be the Emperor’s own hand, is the word “SEATTLE”.  No other corroborating record exists to explain the relic.

 

        In their own records, the Umbral Owls detail their lineage as descendants of the Raven Guard Legion.  Specifically, the chapter history begins not with the boilerplate of a Astartes Founding, but with two simple sentences.

 

        “The Primarch asked, ‘Who will be my owls, to hunt in the night?”

        “We stepped forward.”

 

        What follows are the collected logs, diaries, and combat footage of Task Force Antai - a Raven Guard Nomad Predation Fleet launched shortly after Corax took up leadership of the Legion at the Emperor's behest.  The information contained within details the fleet's operations from shortly after leaving the vicinity of Deliverance till Task Force Antai returned to Imperial space to resupply and rearm.  Included are records of Antai's tasking to the far galactic north, relying on information gleaned from Dark Age records held on Kiavahr.  Returning shortly before Corax's disappearance, the Owls claim one of the Primarch's final acts was to direct the dissolution of Task Force Antai and their recreation as an independent Astartes chapter.  Accordingly, the legionnaires cased their Raven Guard standards and took up the mantle of the Umbral Owls.  

 

Full Index Astartes Article (work in progress)

 

But, what's a progess log without pictures, eh?

 

Head of the Chapter Librarius - Master Librarian Constantin Delondor

Unfortunately, due to using my phone rather than the wife's camera - he's over-exposed.  Well, and standing on the paper plains of Forgeworld Ewlett-Pacard...

 

Sergeant Nikephorus - 2nd Tac / 1st Platoon - 2nd Company, Gold Battalion

 

 

[deathspectersgt7]

Good Fluff. And a Good Start.

[Arendious]

Some better pictures here, courtesy of the wife's photography skills. (Darn those showy Eldar!)

 

Specialist Ellison Allemanos - 11 years line service, 2 years Field Technician - Recommended by Master Smith Haarlon for pilgrimage to Mars

 

 

Members of Squad 'Kraken' - 3rd Company, Bronze Battalion - 'Kraken' specializes in deep ocean operations

[Arendious]

And after some time in the shadows, some progress of sorts!

Some cell-phone pics of some blue-tac'd test fittings.

 

Lexicanium Xenophon McAllystair - Agea-Pattern Psy-Helm incorporates neuro-circuitry and hexagrammic micro-tiles to replicate codex Psychic Hood

 

 

Veteran Sergeant Eshan Daneen - Agea-Pattern "Raven" Lumi-Steel Boarding Shield 

 

[Arendious]

Updated with actual, you know, pictures this time.  

 

And later, fluff^tm!