The Carrion Crows

[Hrvat]

A murder of crows has taken a residence in my garden as of few weeks ago and the majestic birds have inspired me to create a Raven Guard successor chapter.

 

 

I am currently making a test model to give me further inspiration but some things I have already decided upon. I haven't yet decided in what format I will present the force but that will come as things further develop.

 

 

So these are the things I came up with while waiting for Forge World to release Raven Guard upgrades.

 

 

Colours: Deep bright red to contrast with the pale skin and the "chapter" icon and to be complemented by gold and bronze decorations

 

Icon: 

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/Giladis/40k%20stuff/Carrion%20Crows_zpseoohvcix.png

 

 

As for the character of these Space Marines I was inspired by the Charcaradons and Terran Raven Guard. 

So the key words describing my marines would be:

Propensity for cruelty

Disdain for the weak

Cold Blooded

Grim 

 

 

The Carrion Crows are a descendants of one of the Terran Nomad-Predation fleets that Corax never recalled following the Istvaan V massacre. Now I am divided between three options how to develop this:

1) Standard 2nd founding chapter easiest to write about

2) Not a member of an official founding like Sons of Medusa and only later added to the offical roster of SM chapters of the Imperium

3) Not a chapter and a force not officialy recognised by the Imperium but mostly ignored due to operating on the western fringe of the galaxy battling enemies of the Imperium, they consider themselves part of (this path intrigues me the most)

 

In either path they will continue to be a Nomad-Predation fleet with no homeworld.

 

They will not be a codex chapter but very close. Codex Astartes is followed in most things and Roboute Guilliman is deeply respected by the members of the Carrion Crows, in fact he is the most highly respected of all the primarchs, Corax on the other hand is begrudgingly given deference as their gene-father and little else. Members of the inner circle of the "chapter" cult and command hierarchy secretly still hold in high esteem the man Horus was before his fall.

 

As far as organisation is concerned the Carrion Crows still follow the organisation of the Legions as writen down by the Emperor in Officio Militaris. The exact size of the force is unknown 

 

Basic unit is the Squad know as a Claw

Next level is the Platoon know as a Murder

Followed by Company know as a Congregation

 

The veterans of the force are known as the Deliverers and that is also the name of the 1st Congregation.

 

Members of the chapter carry trophies into battle displaying skulls of the slain foes on spikes and chains attached to their armour.

 

As for special units the chapter maintains fully developed scout squads (like Wolf Scouts) known as Rangers.

 

 

That is it for now, so what do you guys think?

 

  

 

[Olis]

Memories of the old Liber guidelines initially makes me wish to shy away from recommending taking the first option but since the retcon in the Grey Knights codex, it's a much more viable option these days. I don't think objecting without good reason is viable these days. If you want them to be a Second Founding Chapter, then fair enough. I'd say Second or Third Founding is the best options for a Chapter derived from a nomad-predation fleet.

 

I think, trophy-wise, skulls are good. But I humbly suggest adding in details about how the Chapter takes the eyes of the enemy - they are called the Carrion Crows after all. Making this a strong part of Chapter culture would be a nice addition.

 

Organisationally, I think the Chapter should follow the codex in a superficial manner, such as having codex-style squads. However, if they operate like the nomad-predation fleets of old, then there is probably room for them to operate in more ad hoc formations. Personally, I'd call smaller groupings 'Claws' and larger ones 'Murders'. Not keen on the term 'Congregation', mind you.

 

Hope that helps. 

[Chronotonic]

With the warp like it was and them being so far off they may have been a third founding as they did not get back until it was all said and done

 

And seeing that the split was already done they just flipped the bird and went back off resupplied and ready for more of the same old thing

 

I say that third founding thing because the second founds for the raven guard were few because of istavan v but those lone fleets would explain more then 5000 raven guards a couple of years later for the other chapters

 

And then you won't have as many nasayers "there were only x second foundings" bla bla haha

[Arendious]

I'd recommend taking path two, personally.  Though I went with a modified version of path one myself.

 

I'm with Olis in feeling that 'Congregation' doesn't carry the right connotation for cold-blooded killers who do the dirty work Corax was too soft to do himself. ;)  An 'unkindness' is an archaic term for a group of ravens - so perhaps that fits your chosen flavor a bit better?  ( The 10th Unkindness sounds like a bunch of guys I'd rather not meet in a dark hive alley.)

 

Some questions to ponder:

 

As a nomadic fleet based force, are they recruiting from worlds they visit, from a set of "home" worlds they return to (semi-)regularly, or something more exotic?

 

Who, if anyone outside the chapter, is supplying them?  Do they have agreements with Forgeworlds near where they operate?  Do they bring factory ships along to self-resupply?  Raid/scavenge from foes?

 

How do the Carrion Crows feel about their parent chapter, and/or other Legion successors?  Do they even think about them, preferring to fight a private war?

 

How much of the Inner Circle's sentiment is known throughout the force, and importantly, outside it? (Does the Inquisition have an interest?)

 

Love what I see so far, brother.  

[Aqui]

Regarding the monikers for squads etc, perhaps:

Clutch - basic squad

Claw - Platoon

Murder - Company

Congregation evokes images of pious worshippers than anything else.

As for where to put them in the Foundings timeline, perhaps you could combine option one and three - They are Second Founding, but made up of a small group of Raven Guard malcontents that sneer at the other Chapters born at the same time and went off to part unknown, fighting wars that they feel inclined to.

Interesting idea you have in any case

[Hrvat]

Memories of the old Liber guidelines initially makes me wish to shy away from recommending taking the first option but since the retcon in the Grey Knights codex, it's a much more viable option these days. I don't think objecting without good reason is viable these days. If you want them to be a Second Founding Chapter, then fair enough. I'd say Second or Third Founding is the best options for a Chapter derived from a nomad-predation fleet.

As much as I deslike the new legion sizes the new background does allow people with more opportunities. Even if I do abide to the old legion strength in my own 40K universe the nomad-predation fleet gives ample space for a second founding as the date of creation while at the same time being of a later official founding or of an unknown founding.

I think, trophy-wise, skulls are good. But I humbly suggest adding in details about how the Chapter takes the eyes of the enemy - they are called the Carrion Crows after all. Making this a strong part of Chapter culture would be a nice addition.

This is very good, thank you very much I think I know how I will you it

Organisationally, I think the Chapter should follow the codex in a superficial manner, such as having codex-style squads. However, if they operate like the nomad-predation fleets of old, then there is probably room for them to operate in more ad hoc formations. Personally, I'd call smaller groupings 'Claws' and larger ones 'Murders'. Not keen on the term 'Congregation', mind you.

The general idea is that squads are more or less uniform - something between a tactical and a crusader squad but depending on the mission at hand some squads if sufficient equipment is available can be "upgraded" into dedicated assault and devastator squads.

The emphasis will be on generic infantry as the backbone of the force with only a few specials due to their limited resources.

As for the terms for formations I was considering also Flock, Flight, Parliament and Conspiracy. I will ponder on the matter some more before making the final decision.

I'm with Olis in feeling that 'Congregation' doesn't carry the right connotation for cold-blooded killers who do the dirty work Corax was too soft to do himself. An 'unkindness' is an archaic term for a group of ravens - so perhaps that fits your chosen flavor a bit better? ( The 10th Unkindness sounds like a bunch of guys I'd rather not meet in a dark hive alley.)

An Unkindness hmmm interesting. Thanks

As a nomadic fleet based force, are they recruiting from worlds they visit, from a set of "home" worlds they return to (semi-)regularly, or something more exotic?

Who, if anyone outside the chapter, is supplying them? Do they have agreements with Forgeworlds near where they operate? Do they bring factory ships along to self-resupply? Raid/scavenge from foes?

The idea is that they recruit where they can and when they can. Sometimes this takes the form of a "requisition" of resources from a world they protected or just visited. But most of the time new recruits are kidnapped by squads of Rangers that range far and wide along the chapter's fleets paths.

Majority of the equipment they use is produced internally since they follow the "Distrust is the mother of safety" proverb. Some things have been recieved as gifts from other chapters the fought alongside or from Mechanicum officials they aided. They have a pair of ancient forgeships as well as having extensively modified vessel of the old Crusade fleet converted to serve various purposes.

Thank you for the scavenging idea. I think I will make that a tradition of sorts where chapter's neophytes/serfs/servitors scavenge the battlefields for usefull stuff.

How do the Carrion Crows feel about their parent chapter, and/or other Legion successors? Do they even think about them, preferring to fight a private war?

How much of the Inner Circle's sentiment is known throughout the force, and importantly, outside it? (Does the Inquisition have an interest?)

I reckon they do not see the Raven Guard as a parent chapter. To them Raven Guard and other successors of the old Legion are acknowledged as members of the same gene line but little beyond that. Carrion Crows consider themselves the true inheritors of the XIX Legion before it was "corrupted" by the arrival of Corax. They do not concern themselves with the actions of ther "cousins" nor do they think about them. But they do respect the battle prowess of those they ended fighting alongside.

The chapters the Carrion Crows are know to maintain stronger relations are: Executioners, Marines Errant, Charnel Guard and Libators.

It is not widely known and no one outside knows about it.

Regarding the monikers for squads etc, perhaps:

Clutch - basic squad

Claw - Platoon

Murder - Company

A clutch creates a completely wrong mental image for me

Thank on all the input so far.

[Hrvat]

CARRION CROWS FACTOGRAPHY PART 1

 

 

This is not the article about the force itself, just the facts that I will use and then present at face value or cloak them depending on the content.

 

The final product as I see it now will in the form of a Imperial Armour article, joined with an extract or two depending on the editiong from an Inquisitorial report and a few sidebars from a Scout sergeant talking to nepohyte point of view.

 

So factography part one - very unrefined

 

ORIGINS

The Carrion Crows are one of the few Space Marine forces that exists in the Imperium thought they have never been officially founded. As far as documents available to researchers in the last century of the 41st millennium are concerned the Carrion Crows are a Chapter of an unknown founding belonging to the gene line of Primarch Corax, yet they do not claim descent from the Raven Guard nor are recognised as a successor by the illustrious Chapter. What the surviving records show is that the Carrion Crows have fought for the Imperium since at least the Nova Terra interregnum, making some to theorize that they might belong to the 13th, also known as the Dark, founding of the Space Marines.

 

The true history is known to only a scattered few outside the Carrion Crows and these include their closest allies: Navigator House Farwynd, Rogue Trader Dynasty Davos and Knight House Selmy. The Carrion Crows are a successor force of the XIX Legion of the Space Marines more commonly known as the Raven Guard. They do not consider themselves descendants of the old Legion in the manner chapters of the 2nd founding do, but believe they still are the XIX Legion. The history of the Carrion Crows stretches back into the final years of the Great Crusade when a number of Terran veterans under command of Captain Yrgal were sent away from the rest of the legion by primarch Corax to form a nomad predation fleet. This saved them from the cull at the battle of Gate 42 and ultimately the massacre on Istvaan V. When the news of the Horus Heresy and the massacre reached them the fleet command was in a dilemma. They had little love for their Primarch(who was rumoured to be dead) that had exiled them in all but name for their heritage and history, while at the same time many thought highly of Horus under whose command they had served for many long years.

With few facts, many half truths and numerous rumours reaching them Captain Yrgal and the rest of the fleet’s command decided to stay neutral until further information could be gathered. In the meantime they chose to change their livery so not to be mistaken for Raven Guard who had already chosen their side and suffered for it. Ultimately 7th nomad predation fleet of the XIX Legion joined the fight on the side of the Emperor. The fleet came upon a system where Iron Hands battled Word Bearers and remained hidden gathering information and observing the obscenities and warp spawned horrors unleashed by the sons of Lorgar. Before captain Yrgal could intervene on the Iron Hands side he had to deal with internal rebellion by members of the warrior lodges lead by the senior chaplain of the fleet.

 

Now that their loyalty was decided Yrgal and his men tried to contact Master Fal to head the rebuilding of the legion, but failed, his whereabouts unknown. So the space marines of the 7th nomad predation fleet declared themselves as the only true remaining members of the XIX Legion and joined the war with gusto. Many traitor forces during that horrible age would learn to fear the white bird on the field of crimson. Later they would join with the Ultramarines of Roboute Guilliman and take part in the Imperium Secundus. Their skills were crucial in routing out many hidden chaos cults and combating the infiltration attempts of the Alpha Legion.

 

Following the Horus Heresy, in the later stages of the Scouring they were reunited with the rest of the Raven Guard legion and their primarch, but maintained their distinctiveness. The rejoining was strained and short lived as, few years later the 2nd founding occurred and the legions of old were broken. Even though Guilliman spoke with Corax in their favour the primarch of the Raven Guard refused them the privilege to found a chapter. So the brothers of the 7th nomad predation fleet were left to languish idly as Corax locked himself away for a year in his tower. Knowing what he did to the unfortunate results of his experiments many members of the new Raven Guard chapter dreaded Corax might try to do the same to the brothers of the 7th once he ends his self imposed isolation. Though outnumbering them three to one few fancied their chances against the veterans of the Unification wars, the Great Crusade and now the Horus Heresy. Thankfully when Corax emerged he just took ship and disappeared into annals of history.

 

With only their oaths to the Emperor and the Imperium remaining brothers of the 7th parted with their estranged comrades and disappeared into the void between the stars. They would remain the XIX Legion and retain their current heraldry. The name they now bear they would only later acquire and adopt from those they would save, for they gathered like carrion crows to the places of greatest calamity where corpses were piled the highest.  

 

 

ALLIES

It is likely that no such symbiosis exists in the Imperium as the one between the Carrion Crows, the Navigator House Farwynd and the Rogue Trader Davos Dynasty. Though the dealings between the three are public it is only a tip of the iceberg of activities that goes about. The Carrion Crows have been crucial to the rise of the Davos Dynasty as the dynasties domains are now to the maintenance of the legion. Integral to the survival of both is the Navigator House Farwynd. The beginning of the triad can be found in the roster of forces assigned and attached to the 7th nomad predation fleet. An exiled member of the noble house Davos by the name of Ilam is sent by his family to join the fleet destined for the deep galactic south with a Warrant of Trade issued by the Emperor himself. Expecting not to return for a significant number of years a void barque of Navigator House Farwynd is ordered to join the fleet. House Farwynd was one of the voidborn nomad houses that got picked up by the advancing Imperial fleets during the Great Crusade and pressed into service for the greater good of man. At the conclusion of the Horus Heresy Ilam ended as the only heir to house Davos, while the ships of the 7th fleet were almost exclusively guided by members of house Farwynd.

 

Ten thousand years later Davos dynasty is an influential house of Terran politics with numerous holdings across the Imperium, especially along the western edges of Segmentum Pacificus. Bound by history and honour to the Carrion Crows their scions are raised on the same regime as the aspirants of the Legion creating people of superior character though lacking the ambition so often seen among the rogue traders and nobles of Terra. That is for the best for the dynasty is constantly on guard not to draw to much attention to themselves or acquire too much power that could breed enemies (at least in greater numbers than usually). The planetary wealth of Davos is equally owed to the space marines and to the navigators of house Farwynd that guide their ships. In return, as Davos established itself as one of the two hundred families of Terra, they ensured Farwynd would receive their place in the Navigator’s Quarter.

 

Though the ships of the Carrion Crows are exclusively guided by house Farwynd the same cannot be said for the ships belonging to Davos dynasty. In order not to draw suspicion a portion of dynasties ships are guided by navigators belonging to other houses, though these are always ship of lesser importance, and there are ships belonging to other organisations guided by navigators of house Farwynd.

 

In recent centuries the Carrion Crows have acquired another ally the last Knight of house Selmy. When their Knight world was overrun by Orks the last remaining Knight who at the time was not on the planed went on a quest to find the Carrion Crows and repay the debt his house had towards the Space Marines. Though the debt has long been repaid the Knight remains with the Legion now as an integral part as the navigators and rogue traders who ply the starts with the Carrion Crows.

 

ORGANISATION

The Carrion Crows Legion follows broadly the tenets of Codex Astartes. Even though they style themselves as a legion they keep to Guilliman’s idea of the maximum size of a space marine force under a single man. For after all in their glorious beginning the XIX Legion was also at around a thousand men.

 

Murder is a colloquial name for a battle company, while Talon is a name of an operational unit within a company.

 

So the Carrion Crows look like this:

 

Legion/Chapter Command – no fixed size

“Deliverers” Veteran Company (1st) – 10 Squads

“Name + Murder” Battle Company (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th) – 3 Tactical Talons + 1 Reconnaissance Talon

“Wraiths” Ranger Company (6th) – 4 Reconnaissance Talons

Tactical Reserve Company (7th) – 10 Squads

Assault Reserve Company (8th) – 10 Squads

Devastator Reserve Company (9th) – 10 Squads

Neophyte Company (10th) – no fixed size  

 

Tactical Talon – 2-5 Tactical Squads

Reconnaissance Talon – 1-3 Squads

 

Squad – Sergeant

Talon – Lieutenant

Company – Captain

Veteran & Neophyte Company – Lieutenant Commander

Legion/Chapter – Lord Commander

 

 

The Carrion Crows field a special unit rarely encountered in other Space Marine chapters. They field full battle brothers in carapace armour as a reconnaissance/infiltration elite.

[Arendious]

Still loving what I see, brother raven.  Particularly, I like the feeling that your marines are roaming around the galaxy collecting/scavenging odds and sods. (And inadvertantly (maybe) rebuilding the sort of combined arms force the legions originally were.)