Raven Guard 1st and 4th Company

[Voron]

Long time lurker and dabbler, a few years ago (after being into 40k as a kid) had a flash of inspiration and got sucked back in to the universe. I searched around for a SM chapter I liked, and found myself drawn to the order and structure of the Ums and Fists, and the human saving tendencies of the Salamanders. Eventually I plumped for the Raven Guard – the things I particularly liked about them were:

 

• Their preference (like the Salamanders) for helping the day to day humans of the 40k universe, who let’s face it, have a pretty tough time.
• The way they tackle their issues with perception and intelligence rather than brute force.
• Their ‘manoeuverist approach’ to warfare – striking where the enemy is weakest, doing what’s needed and getting out
• Coupled to that, their no-nonsense approach. Not fanatics, they’re soldiers and professonals.

 

So, time to put an army together. An army mostly for fluff purposes rather than playing, but we'll see how it goes. Having done more research, I decided I would build my army around a few principals.

 

• Everyone wears helmets. There’s too much risky non-helmet wearing out there. One day Marneus Calgar will get a shuriken to the head and everyone will just say ‘I told you so.’ Plus, Raven Guard in beakie mk6 helmets look super cool, so I’ll try to have at least 50% of them. So in my army, every one wears a helmet, from the boss down to the lowliest marine.
• Everyone is an elite. Speaking of lowly marines, these guys are 100+ year old genetically engineered transhumans, so they deserve a bit more of a special treatment than just the odd purity scroll. Each of my marines will have something special about them. Which could be hard as I’m ‘re-rolling’ some rather tired old looking models.
• Death from above. The thing I’ve always liked about RG is not the sneaky stealthiness, but the precision striking at weak points. Best way to achieve that – drop on him out of the sky. So, it’s a drop pod army. Everything in it will have to be deployable via drop pod or (presumably) jump out of a drop pod at high altitude, like Assault Marines or Land Speeders. Basically, no wheels.
• Codex Company. I’ve always really liked the idea of having a full company of Astartes. I have a bit of a penchant for Command Squads, standards, and all of the associated company officers, and although this isn’t typical RG I want to fit them in.
• Actual elites. I also have a love for the various types of elites – Sterngaurd, Vanguard, Terminators (which actually I think are pretty good Raven Guard – nothing is as suppressing and alarming as 5 Tactical Dreadnaughts appearing in your well defended command centre) etc – but they don’t fit in a line company. Sooooo that’ll be the 1^st Company as well then it seems (note to self: looking pricey now…)

 

So there we have it. 1st and 4th (because I like dark green with black) Company Raven Guard joined together, as a large strike force to battle an as yet unknown enemy. Let the work begin!

 

The first almost finished model is Shadow Captain Voron. He is the venerable captain of the 1 st Company of the Raven Guard, and thus a mighty, powerful and wise warrior, who will take the newly promoted 4th Company Captain under his wing (pun intended), to show him the ropes of being a Company Commander. His helm is that worn by each 1st Company Captain, and has been handed down as such since Istvaan V.

 

 

Now I just need a catchy but dark name for the Taskforce... Oh, and 150 more marines.

[DimDim]

Looks great so far, glad someone else shares the same ideals on what a marine is and should wear in combat out there lol.

[hushrong]

Looks awesome! Reading your ideas and thoughts has me looking forward to those 150 marines to come!

[KBA]

That's a nice Korvy bash. Always cool to see more RG on the board.

[MagicMan]

Great start. :)

[Sun Reaver]

Looking forward to this! Good luck man. 

[LachlantheLoaf14]

This looks to be the beginnings of something great! love the 1st Captain and good luck with the project!

[Voron]

So, I didn't promise this would be fast... However, I've been getting down to it and starting to make some progress. Lots of organising and planning (and buying of bits), so I thought some low hanging fruit needed to be completed! So, let me introduce you to Epistolary Ahianwen Oro:

 

 

Epistolary Ahianwen Oro is attached to the 1st Company Raven Guard at the request of the 1st Company Shadow Captain. Although his talents were identified early by the Librarians of the Raven Guard, he (as all newly initiated battle-brothers) served his first 50 years in companies of the line, where he developed a reputation as an accomplished pilot, with faster than thought reactions. Upon joining the Librarius his mentors developed his skills in the most sought after field of psychic study for the Raven Guard, divination. After all, knowing where and when your enemy will be somewhere enables the Sons of Corax to strike with the greatest effect. He has since risen to the rank of Epistolary, and following his service with the chapter's elite, many suspect he will become the the next Chief Librarian. For now, he and Shadow Captain Voron make for a deadly team, Ahainwen identifying targets in detail, and Voron mastering and executing the plan.

 

As for the model, I know it's an often seen conversion, but just such a great model. I think I might re-do the lighting (force) claw to have it as bit more sideways. He will also be able to use a jump pack, but haven't got around to that yet... Also, one day I'll mount a large scale 're-basing' programme, but I think that will have to wait for now.

 

Incidentally, the name comes from the "ahianmwen-oro" which were prophecy birds from ancient Benin. I have gathered around 100 names for the army so far, some with specific uses like for the specialists, and some more general. They're a mix of birds, particularly ravens, crows and other birds of death, birds from mythology, and also names of famous partisans, guerilla fighters or those that waged wars for good reasons. Watch this space for more...

[Voron]

So, it's been a while, as expected, but progress is being made... Let me present Chaplain Strigidae, attached to the 4th Company, Raven Guard.

He's a seasoned warrior, having served in the 1st Company as a Veteran Sergeant before posting to the Reclusium. He acts as the Shadow Captain's second in command, leading a demi-company if needs be, and acting as the chief disciplinarian in the company - ensuing discipline, focus and adherence to the Primarch's principals of war.

He's made from various bits: Red Scorpion honour guard torso (which I hope gives a good chaplain-esque feel), Korvydae thunder hammer converted into a large crozius, the cool beakie helmet from the RG upgrade, sternguard legs. Can be fitted with jump pack if needs be.

So, task force command is nearly complete (although I have 4th Company Caprain who I'm having some issues with, and an old metal techmarine who's resisting his decapitation)... Next step, command squads

[Vulkan454]

Looking fantastic so far brother! Really liking the character and menace each character has, good luck with personalising every marine, im sure it will look fantastic when you finish

[Voron]

Another update! 1st Company Command Squad now complete (ish)... Apologies in advance for the shoddy camera work

The Command Squad of the 1st Shadow Company, the Raven Guard are the elite within the elite, chosen not just for their centuries worth of experience in sneaking up on and killing the enemies of humanity, but for their tactical and strategic genius. They will all have commanded independent deployments during their times as Veteran Sergeants (the rank they all currently hold), either of ground fighting strike forces or starships. They are all are destined for top roles within the Chapter, whether as Shadow Captains, in the Reclusium, or as captains of the fleet’s largest ships. In the meantime, each brings a different advisory approach to Shadow Captain Voron, and fulfils a different function while on the battlefield – as well as bringing a whole lot of whoopass.

Modelling wise, they’re based on the SM veteran models, and will look very similar to the 4th Company Command Squad – however, in order to differentiate them I’ve tried to make them slightly more bling (not too much, they are RG after all), give them all power weapons, and all helmets have wreaths on them.

Veteran (Shadow) Sergeant Gryp – is the senior Veteran Sergeant in the 1st Company, often known as ‘the Shadow Sergeant.’ He is the leader of the command squad, and therefore protection of the Shadow Captain on the ground, but also serves as his ‘Chief of Staff’ ensuring the smooth running of the company, particularly in planning phases. During the battle he will follow the progress of the battle on his display, and relay any critical information the Shadow Captain may have missed. While serving in a 6th Company detachment manning a defensive orbital platform known only as ‘the Tower,’ he was the only marine so survive a fearsome bombardment from the renegade strike cruiser Heinkel, relaying information to the RG fleet who ambushed and destroyed it. (During WW2, the Tower of London was bombed and the only raven to survive was called Grip – hence the name). I suspect he may have served on an attachment with the Wolves as well to get an axe like that, but not worked it out yet. But damn does it look cool.

Brother Frírek – bears the company standard, and as such is also responsible for communications within the strike force but also with orbital assets – this is what the big pole is for (see, the sons of Corax don’t do anything without a good reason!) His name comes from the bearer of King Harolds ‘raven banner’ Landøyðan at the battle of Stamford Bridge (raven banners apparently being very popular with Viking invaders). The standard (when I finally paint it) will therefore read ‘Landøyðan,’ which apparently also means ‘Land-Waster’ or ‘Land-Destroyer’ in Norse. I’m looking for a good raven to mount on the top of it, does anyone have any ideas?

Apothecary Caladrius – attached to 1st company. Before moving to the apothecarion he built a reputation as a ferocious tactical battle brother, however, his aptitude for understanding the advanced transhuman physiology and his cool head under fire have lead to him becoming a well respected member of the apothecarion, both in his medical ability and his skill as a warrior. Rumour has it he once saved the life of the Master of Shadows; rumour further has it that his life was saved not with narthecium, but a well aimed bolt pistol round.

Brother Itzal – is responsible, in collaboration with the company’s Techmarine (if attached), for ensuring the company has all the material items it needs to conduct its operations; ammunition, equipment, sustainment. A rather thankless task, Brother Itzal relishes the chance to meet battle with the foes of mankind, and has proven on countless occasions that his speed and focused aggression are second to none. He is the pre-eminent instructor of dual wielded lightning claws in the Chapter. His name is a Basque name meaning ‘shadow.’

Brother Rabanus – is responsible for building the intelligence picture for the company, in collaboration with the Librarian if attached. This he will keep a moving record of during the battle and campaign, and will advise the Shadow Captain on the enemy’s strengths and key weakness. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the many enemies of mankind, and spent time serving both in the Deathwatch and exceptionally in the retinue of Inquisitor Tzu. His name comes from the latin Hrabanus, meaning ‘raven’

In other news, I should probably start buying some black paint....

[Vulkan454]

Can't wait to see these guys painted! Love the amount of work you've put into them, even the names are thought out.

Carry on the good work man

[That Guy Matt]

Looking good Brother. You've got some great conversions and I fully intend to come back and read the fluff bits more thoroughly. The bits I skimmed looked good.