The Raven Guard are a Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.

There are various reported sightings of Raven Guard Astartes operating within the Achernar sector, at least one of which was proven to be false. Due to the secretive and often uncooperative nature of the Raven Guard, as well as their advanced stealth capabilities, the exact details are unknown. What is known is that the fifth company of the Raven Guard, or a significant portion thereof, are known to have been operating in the Achenar sector and were a key participant in the Samalut IX Campaign and have since been spotted in the Eridani sector.

Primaris joining the Raven Guard

The Raven Guard have, historically, had difficulty with their geneseed and consequently have very slow recruitment rates. In the wake of a disastrous war with the T’au that had taken the life of the Chapter Master and left the chapter decemated, they were at a particular low. When Roboute Guilliman arrived during the Indomitus Crusade with his “Unnumbered Sons” and delivered fresh recruits and the technology to produce the more stable Primaris Marines, the response from the Raven Guard was cautious optimism. The new Shadow Master Kavaan Shrike in particular embraced the Primaris as the saviours of the Chapter.

Despite that, initial integration was difficult. The “Awoken” Primaris provided by Guilliman and Cawl were trained only in a single battlefield role and even after the combat experience and training from veterans they received in the Indomitus Crusade, had little focus upon the stealth and ambush tactics favoured by the Raven Guard. As such they initially filled out the Support Companies. As they have gained experience, and new Primaris Marines have been inducted with more traditional Raven Guard training, they have begun to populate the Battle Companies as well.

The MkX Phobos Armour is particularly favoured within the Raven Guard, over and above the Intercessor and Gravis patterns, and much of the production of Kiavar has been turned to producing more armour of this pattern from designs provided by Cawl. Nevertheless, the Raven guard have always been wont to modify standard Imperial designs, and have produced a helmet variant that incorporates the superior sensor suite found in MkVI Corvus pattern armour.

Raven Guard 5th Company 'The Watchful'

The Raven Guard Fifth company, also known at The Watchful, is a Battle Company, however the Raven Guard do not strictly adhere to Codex Astartes disposition of their troops. Additionally at the time of the Samalut Campaign, the Fifth was still under strength. The Company relied heavily on it's Scouts, and fielded enough aircraft and jump packs that the entire company was air-mobile during the Campaign.

Known Members during the Samalut Campaign

Shadow Captain Yiraka - Commander of the 5th, often seen leading the Vanguard Veterans 'The Unkindness'.
Lieutenant Nykona - Battle Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Colfaen - Intelligence and Strategy Lieutenant.
Chaplain Bran the Blessed - Spiritual Leader, often seen leading the Assualt Marines.
Librarian Nironen - Defeated the deamon known as Baraqiel on Samalut IX alongside Blood Angel Librarial Gabriel.
Veteran Sergeant Maun - Leader of the Sternguard Veterans, best soldiers in the 5th.
Sergeant Khira - Leader of the Scouts. Personally responsible for the rescue and return of Planetary Governor Suhaniya Singhe on Samalut IX.
Techmarine Jadyr
Apothecary Kolyk

Primaris in the 5th Company

The 5th company is ever observant and does not rush to action. In the wake of the Samalut IX campaign, the 5th Company returned to the Ravenspire for repairs, to inter their heroic dead, and to collect reinforcements. Many of those reinforcements came in the form of Primaris Marines, bringing the 5th company up to a full fighting strength of 100 full Astartes Battle Brothers, plus support staff, for the first time in living memory. Nevertheless Shadow Captain Yiraka was cautious of these new Primaris Marines and wished to see them performing on their own for a fully independent assessment, without the support of the more experienced Firstborn.

Primaris Librarian Aethon was selected to lead this Strike Force, however Firstborn Lieutenant Colfaen, who had followed Shadow Master Shrike’s example in crossing the Rubicon Primaris, joined them to assist and also observe. As the 5th Company returned to the Segmentum Pacificus, Strike Force Aethon would be one of several subformations operating independently, only coming back together when Shadow Captain Yiraka requires the full force of his Company in one place.

Strike Force Aethon

Strike Force Aethon had a fairly loose remit. As ever the Raven Guard deploy as and where they see fit, often preferring to go to the aid of the alone and the abandoned, rather than joining larger ongoing conflicts. One target Aethon had identified was the Pheraean Rift in the Eridani Sector, where increasing losses of smaller stations and colonies seemed to have gone largely unaddressed by local Imperial commanders. Aethon was also keen to visit Samalut IX, if the tides of war allow, to see for himself the most recent major victory of the 5th and ensure the efforts of the Chapter were not being wasted by the current Imperial Guard forces who have taken over, as well as look into some of the information he learned from Librarian Nironen.

During their investigations into the Pheraean Rift and the Necrons therein they have been joined by Inquisitor Michael, although draws on his time are many and he comes and goes.

Over time, Strike Force Aethon proved the value of Primaris Marines to the Chapter, and reinforcments have come in the form of more former Unnumbered Sons, newly indoctrinated Primaris initiates and increasingly veteran firstborn marines that have crossed the Rubricon Primaris as the proceedure has become safer and more reliable. With the defeat of the Necrons on Xise Yuan the Strike Force was folded back into the bulk of the 5th Company and under the direct command of Shadow Captain Yiraka.

Mission logs:

Key Members

Shadow Captain Yiraka

Shadow Captain Yiraka commands the Raven Guard 5th Company "The Watchful" and embodies their ideals. He is patient and watchful. He preffers to gather as much information as possible before he acts. In conversation with others he often holds back his council in silence and lets the conversation play out, only interjecting when he feels it necessary and prudent. Under his leadership the 5th Company gather information in silence and secrecy and reveal themselves only when they are ready to strike. Depsite that, his experience during the Samalut campaign with the Blood Angels has shown him the value of overt heroism, as well as the cost, and he is perfectly capable of adapting to the situation as required.

Lieutenant Nykona

Lieutenant Nykona was promoted to Lieutenant at the same time as Shadow Captain Yiraka, but from the two of them Yiraka was picked for the Captaincy when Kyrin Solaq died. Nykona is a capable leader but more hotheaded than Yiraka.

His performance in [the Samalut IX Campaign] was excelent, leading several missions on his own and working well with the Blood Angels. In the final defence of Tarno he initially took command of the battle line whilst Yiraka waited in reserve ready to deply where needed. He personally killed the Kommando leader after they overran the North-Eastern flank. The heroic Blood Angels he fought alongside only encouraged his straightforward and valourous approach.

He was dissapointed when Lieutenant Colfaen was chosen to be first to cross the Rubricon Primaris and lead Strike Force Aethon into the [Pheraean Rift] rather than him, instead Nykona was one of the last of the 5th company to cross the Rubricon. Nevertheless he paired well with Colfaen and laments the passing of his brother.

Librarian Nironen

Epistolary Nironen is the senior Librarian attached to the 5th company. Recruited from the Scholastica Psykana, rather than directly from Deliverance like most of the Chapter, Nironen originally felt like and outsider, but he has since grown to be confident in his place amongst the Raven Guard. A logical man, he approaches the real of psykana with a scientific rigor.

On Salamut IX Nironen, along with Blood Angel Librarial Gabriel, he encountered and banished the deamon known as Baraqiel. During the battle Baraqiel evicerated and nearly destroyed the soul of Gabriel, but Nironen and the Raevn Guard 1st Company Terminators managed to destroy it before it could finish Gabriel off.

Nironen ensured the deamon was completely defeated, but when he later called upon his powers during the defence of Tarno the deamon attacked him pschically. During this assualt he was nearly killed by the surprise attack of the StormKommandoes and their leader Bozzgit Kawsmash, but for the timely intervention of Shadopw Captain Yiraka.

Immediately after the initial banishment of the deamon, Nironen, with the agreement of the Blood Angel Appothecary, entered the mind of Gabriel to ensure there was no sign of possesion or warp taint. Whilst he confirmed no melefic taint was present, he did discover the darker side of Gabriel's psyche, and suspects this could extend to all Blood Angels.

Librarian Aethon

Aethon has no memories from before he awoke in the bowels of the Zar-Quaesitor. He has theorised that either he has received a complete mind-wipe, perhaps related to his nature as a powerful psyker, or he was created artificially in a vat. He came into the galaxy with no name but the designation 07-395-2801, and no history but the genetic legacy of his gene-father Corax. Whilst he may not be a true son of Deliverance, the Raven Guard are his entire identity and he is determined to live up to their legacy.

From the moment of his emergence from stasis, the pressure has been on and expectations have been high. During his time amongst the Unnumbered Sons of the Indomitus Crusade, he often felt he was not up to standard, his psychic gifts being far more ephemeral and less overt than the battle psykers of other chapters. This drove him to work even harder to live up to what he felt was expected of him and prove his worth. When he finally joined the Raven Guard, who appreciated his more subtle gifts, he found acceptance at last. They, in turn, received a Librarian that had driven himself to achieve far more than they would have expected in such a short time.

Adapting to the Raven Guard methods of warfare was like a homecoming for Aethon, and it was not long before he rose to the rank of Codicier. When Shadow Captain Yiraka drew up his plans for integrating the Primaris into the 5th he personally petitioned Shadow Master Shrike for Aethon to be assigned to his Company. Aethon was granted command of several dozen of his Primaris Brothers and dispatched to lead an independent Strike Force and prove the value of the Primaris Marines to the 5th Company.

Chaplain Moradus

Apothecary Orlos

Apothecary Orlos is dedicated to the troops under his care, his focus upon which can sometimes distract him from the importance of the mission at hand.

Techmarine Tykor

Whilst any Techmarine is dedicated to and diligent in maintaining the wargear of the chapter, Tykor is personally most interested in learning and discovery. He has worked well in the past with [Inquisitor Michael] to investigate the workings on of the Xenos Necrons.

Former Lieutenant Colfaen

Colfaen was promoted to Lieutenant from being the Sergeant of a Devastator squad, intended as a more calm and strategic counterbalance to Lieutenant Nykona’s aggression. During the Samalut campaign he spent much of his time aboard the Strike Cruiser Sable Sword organising logistics, redeployments and reserve forces. His work was vital to the cause and helped secure the ultimate victory, but he did not personally see combat during the entire campaign. He has also acted as spymaster for the 5th, although in this role he has occasionally been more hands-on.

When the 5th Company returned to Deliverance for resupply and repairs, they learned that they would be receiving Primaris reinforcements, and that Shadow Master Shrike had undergone the procedure to cross the Rubicon Primaris. Colfaen, concerned that he was becoming more of an administrator than a warrior, volunteered to undergo the procedure himself. Nykona also volunteered, however Shadow Captain Yiraka was not unaware of what he had asked of Colfaen during the Samalut campaign, and chose Colfaen to be the only member of the 5th Company command staff to undergo the risky procedure at that time.

Colfaen was assigned to Strike Force Aethon as the sole Firstborn veteran of a force entirely composed of Primaris Marines that were either awoken from Cawl’s vaults or recently inducted since the Indomitus crusade. Librarian Aethon lead the force, and Colfaen was present acting as both adviser and observer. This role frees him of the strategic command responsibilities he bore during the Samalut campaign and he was better able to engage in combat directly.

He quickly developed a reputation amogst the strike force for reckless heroics and resilience, repeatedly throwing himself into danger to preotect his troops. Aethon began to fear he may be showing signs of the onset of the Sable Brand. During a chance encounter with the hated Alpha Legion, Colfaen was mortally wounded, however Apothecary Orlos was able to inter him in the sarcophegus of a Dreadnought, from whench he can continue to serve the Chapter.

Squad Kasz - Infiltrators

Sergeant Kasz is a competent Sergeant and has adapted well to the Raven Guard manner of warfare, but privately he struggles with his hypno-indoctrinated Intercessor training conflicting with his later learned infiltration skills. On one occasion this nearly cost him his life, but he keeps a tight grip upon it. It has left him a careful and conservative leader.

Helix Adept Orevis is on the path to becoming a fully fledged Apothecary, and at the start of the task force's deployment he acted as the medic for the entire Strike Force.

Squad Ordaris - Infiltrators

Sergeant Odaris is particularly adept in stealth and infiltration, and his unit is normally the first picked for scouting and flanking assignments. He was born in Kiavahr not long after the Great Scouring and volunteered for service with the XIXth Legion, however Cawl’s minions whisked him away for the Primaris project. His joining the Raven Guard chapter is the fulfillment of his destiny ten thousand years delayed.

Brother Shykos is the lead signals operator for the squad. Due to his squad often being deployed away from the rest of the Strike Force he is particularly experienced. When not deployed with his squad he tends to act as lead signalman for the entire Strike Force. The Techmarines of the chapter have their eyes on him for his technical prowess, however Lieutenant Colfaen is also considering him for a command promotion. This may be jeopardised however as the Squad suffered from battle fatigue after being isolated and assaulted by a massive Necron fighting automaton that they lacked any suitable weapons to combat.

Squad Klyvorn - Incursors

Squad Klyvorn epitomise the nature of the 5th Company. Careful and watchful, they focus on gathering and sharing intelligence over direct conflict.

Squad Phryn - Intercessors

Squad Phyrn is one of the first squads of Indoctrinated to make it into the battle companies of the Raven Guard. As newly created Primaris Marines they are distinct from the Firstborn, but neither do they share the camaraderie and history of the Awoken, who rose from Cawl’s cryo chambers and fought together in the Indomitus Crusade as Unumbered Sons before joining the Raven Guard. Squad Phyrn are different from all their brothers in the 5th, and the least experienced, but they were determined to prove themselves and earn their place. Having assassinated a Necron overlord in melee, and fought in many of the most brutal encounters of the campaign, they have earned Bladesman's honours and become grizzled veterans respected by their peers. Sergeant Phryn in particular has formed a personal relationship with Inquisitor Michael, having shared quite a few adventures together, and has even corresponded with Inquisitor Lear.

Squad Vykus - Intercessors

Sergeant Vykus is an up and coming dualist. Whilst he is most skilled with a sword, he prefers his squad to primarily be armed with bolt rifles as he finds Assault Intercessors to be something of a simple blunt instrument and favours the tactical application of ranged firepower.

Squad Qeld - Heavy Intercessors

Off the battlefield Sergeant Qeld is a keen musician, renowned across the chapter for his skill and subtlety with an Eigenharp. On the battlefield he favours the brutal straightforward approach of Gravis Armour and Hellstorm Bolt Rifle. As such he is most heavily used as the ambushing force that his lighter Phobos armoured brethren draw their enemies into.

Brother Draevus - Redemptor Dreadnought

Brother Draevus was critically wounded in the Indomitus Crusade whilst serving the Unnumbered Sons as a Lieutenant. When the remaining Unnumbered Sons were split up and assigned to Chapters of their lineage, he was sent to the Raven Guard who accepted and honoured the fallen hero and transferred him into their stasis vaults alongside the other Dreadnoughts of the chapter.

Despite being relatively young amongst Dreadnoughts, Draevus is the oldest Primaris Marine to be interred and as such the newer Primaris Marines direct respect and honour towards him that he feels is more appropriate for a much older venerable Dreadnought. Nevertheless, as an experienced Lieutenant he is aware of the motivational effect of such an icon and tries to strike a balance of humility and inspiration.

Squad Aevar - Vanguard

Trained initially as Reivers, when the Greyshields of Squad Aevar were assigned to the Raven Guard they excelled in adopting the fighting style of their new Chapter. Equipped with Shrike pattern jump packs designed and built in the forges of Kiavahr, and Necromunda pattern collapsable storm shields, they are depended upon to go wherever they must to achieve their goals and survive.

Squad Estavo - Bladeguard

Elite veterans of the first company "Blackwings", Squad Estavo lend their strenght and experience to the 5th Company. But occasionally they must return to Deliverance and take thier turn guarding the Ravenspire’s forbidden Apothecarion on Farmoon Night.

Squad Slyte - Aggressors

Sergeant Slyte is a solid and dependable leader, but not imaginative when it comes to tactics. His unit largely avoids this issue by deploying in Gravis armour armed with flamers and power fists, an extremely blunt approach. Generally his commander simply points him where to deploy and the rest works itself out.

Squad Strekys - Reivers

Sergeant Strekys took well to his Reiver training, and performed admirably in the role during the Indomitus crusade. When the Unnumbered Sons were united with the Raven Guard there was friction between the Chapter and the Reiver squads. One of Corax’s first acts as Primarch was to turn his legion away from the terror tactics Horus has been using them for. In time the Reivers adapted to the ways of their chapter, however Sergeant Strekys still sometimes skirts close to the line.

Squad Drysk - Supressors

Sergeant Drysk is the antithesis of Sergeant Strekys. Starting out as a Reiver drop trooper he took well to the change to Raven Guard tactics. A smart tactical thinker, he is often trusted to drop into a battle as and when he deems it right, and do whatever is necessary to secure victory. This was soon recognised when he was awarded Terminator Honours in the battle of First Contact on Xise Yuan.

Squad Saserys - Eliminators

No Raven Guard can reach the rank of sergeant without strong skills in both stealth and patience, and Saserys is definitely excellent in these areas, but his outstanding talent as an Eliminator is his ability to predict the movements of the enemy. A strong support unit, they have become somewhat grizzled.

Squad Rescydic - Eliminators

Sergeant Rescydic is, bluntly, a big game hunter. His passion is tracking and killing the biggest nastiest threats he can find.

Squad Kraephen - Eradicators

Whilst he is as versatile as any initiate of the Raven Guard, Kraephen’s defining traits are patience and stubbornness. As such he is well suited to his role leading the Eradicators. Wearing Gravis armour and carrying heavy weaponry, Squad Kraephen is often found in an ambushing force, a brutal surprise waiting for whatever prey their more mobile Brothers to lure into their sights. This was proven when they ambushed and destroyed a dangerous unit of Destroyers, earning them Marksman's Honours.

Squad Tyrvus - Hellblasters

The first reinforcements to reach Task Force Aethon, Squad Tyrvus comes from the 9th Company fire support reserves. Unlike the majority of Task Force Aethon, they are newly created Primaris Marines on Deliverance, not veterans of the Indomitus Crusade. In their first battle they were decisive and heroic, charging into melee combat to keep the enemy from their fallen Brothers. Due to this heroism Sergeant Tyrvus was granted Terminator Honours.

Gontrand - Storm Speeder Hammerstrike

Providing some fast moving heavy firepower for rapid strike actions and highly available support fire, the Storm Speeder Gontrand is short ranged but hard hitting.

Badb - Storm Speeder Thunderstrike

Badb is less heavily armed than Gontrand, its role on the battlefield is of support and precision strikes.

The Morrígan - Gladiator Lancer

Raven Guard traditonally made limited use of tanks, not typically being suited to their style of warefare, however with the new vehicle designs being produced by Cawl that had the ability to be air-dropped, they have started to make more use of them. The Morrígan acts more like a sniper than a battle tank, being dropped in to appear fomr unexpected quarters, eliminate it's target with precision strikes, then fade away.

Fleet Elements

Strike Cruiser - Sable Sword

Shipmaster Radha
Ld 9

Gladius Squadron - Nyctimus Squadron

Elite Command Crew - Once per battle may automatically pass leadership test or command check (before rolling).
Adept Trimsman - When rolling for Come To A New Heading order roll 3d6 discard highest.

Nyctimus

Shipmistress Abimael
Ld 9

Mellori

Commander Dimitris
Ld 9

Psophis

Commander Meissner
Ld 9
Knocked out during battle for Jebalt

Raven Guard Actions in Achernar and Eridani

Raven Guard