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Hi Guys,

New to forums, usually just post on facebook but wanted to show you all my War Cows Primaris Marines.

Originally inspired by Pharah's Thunderbird skin from Overwatch, I decided to research into Native American culture and really do the chapter justice.

A few people on FB really liked my stuff and asked if they could also join the War Crows chapter so we created a fb page and try to come up with some fluff for it.

My friend Dan is far more knowledgeable than me when it comes to fluff so he wrote some really awesome background stuff which you'll find below with some pics of my stuff.

"THE BEGINNING - A HISTORY OF THE WAR CROWS

During the Age of Strife when Mankind ventured into the stars, the explorers of that time discovered a small cluster of planetoids in the Cadian Sector. This system was named the Crowe System, after the lead explorer Hinto Crowe.

The Crowe System is comprised of the primary planet Nacoma, a beautiful green planet with rolling hills, and deep oceans. Much like Terra, this planet is perfect for sustaining human life. This planet was chosen because of its rich metal deposits and ability to grow crops. Nacoma has two moons, Mikki and Anukope. Other planets include the gas giant Enola and one other inhabitable planet, with perpetual storms called Huyana, which literally means falling rain, in Crowes native tongue.

Long sinced passed, the ideals of Hinto have not been forgotten, and have carried from generation to generation. As with all things, the Imperium began to demand more than just crops to feed the citizens of the Emperor. The Astra Militarum began to draft the natives of Nacoma into the forces of the Imperial Guard as scouting troops because of their natural ability to hunt and scout. The population was halved within a generation. Though the Imperium demanded more tithes to its armed forces, the skills and traditions also brought about the attention of the Adeptus Astartes, namely those of the Raven Guard.

The recruitment of the Nacomae was scruitinsed further, under the watchful eye of Captain Draco of the tenth company of the Raven Guard. It is in those few who displayed superior abilities of stealth and warrior-spirit that were indicted into the chapter's Scout Company. For five generations these supreme warriors were brought into the Raven Guard and over time the tenth company all but comprised entirely of Nacomae. This was to be the beginning of the founding of a new chapter, the War Crows.

THE DEATH OF NACOMA

For five hundred years the War Crows have been the defenders of the myriad number of systems in the Cadian Sector. They were instrumental in thwarting the invasion of Gravis V by the Black Legion. In the Corvin Cluster, they joined their brethren of the Raven Guard to repel the renegades of the Red Corsairs, as they tried to take imperial citizens for their slave markets.

As sudden as the War Crows strike their enemies, the Cicatrix Maledictum shattered the Imperium. All astropathic communication was lost and whole worlds were cut off from one another.

The War Crows embarked on a mission to once more defend their neighbours from the horrors of the Warp. Aboard their flagship Keha, the War Crows all but maintained their natural way of life. Environmental systems onboard the vessel kept an ecosystem akin to that of Nacoma. Old traditions mixed with new technology once more, and the volunteers for the expedition were so vast, that only a select number of families were brought along for the trip. Little did they know they would never see their home again.

The forces of Chaos spewed from the rift and assaulted hundreds of planets in an instant. The War Crows, along with the Imperial Guard defended as many planets as they could. Sub-space communication was slow and responses were limited, though the elders of the War Crows heard the psychic scream of a million dying voices long before the message was received.

The War Crows returned to Nacoma to find their home in ruins. The Forces of Chaos, lead by the Chaos Renegades known as The Gore Children, Blood-thirsty followers of Khorne, had slaughtered every man, woman and child and piled their headless corpses tens of metres high. Not one head was found.

A bloody war between the two forces ensued. The War Crows, along with the Nacoma 217th and 318th Imperial Guard regiments made planetfall and were met by legions of Chaos cultists and renegades. While the Imperial Guard dug in and held the line as best they could, many of War Crows dropped deep behind enemy lines and made for their Fortress, Hassun.

The walls were breached and the depravity within awoke something in the War Crows that had laid dormant for generations. To a man, they were overcome with rage and anger. The few renegades that remained inside were butchered and their heads cut from their necks. The old outlawed traditions of scalping were reimagined into something new. No longer would taking the scalp of your foe be enough; the War Crows demanded retribution in the form of taking the head. Driven into a fury, all War Crows, least of all the youngest of the War Crows, basked in the brutality.

The battle continued for weeks, neither side giving ground. It was a stalemate. The tide soon turned on the War Crows when the Gore Children's Sorcerers summoned eight greater daemons of Khorne and eight hundred thousand bloodletters. The War Crows, in their reluctance, were forced to abandon their home world once and for all. The Astartes protected the remaining Imperial Guardsmen until they could hold the enemy no longer. Thousands of men and women died when the War Crows left the planet. Only four hundred battle brothers of the War Crows remained.

LIFE IN SPACE

Like the pioneers of old, the War Crows are adaptive. Their new home, the Keha is fitted with an ecosystem akin to the surface of Nacoma. The few hundred families that remain are the only source of new recruits for both the chapter and the Guard.

The people of the Keha and the flotilla of ships that accompany her, endured much hardship in their time among the stars. Tensions were high between different tribes as they rekindled old ravalries for territory and possessions. Disputes between tribal elders resulted in bloodshed, but the War Crows intervened and through diplomacy brought about peace once more.

The Cadian Sector is a place of constant strife and the Keha have lead a nomadic existence for a hundred years, bringing their righteous retribution to the enemies of mankind. Few have been recruited into the War Crows, with the remaining number being drafter into the Guard.

THE COMING OF A PRIMARCH

Guilliman's return has brought about a new age for the Imperium. Lost chapters of Space Marines have been reunited, and the War Crows were finally reunited with their parent chapter, the Raven Guard. Captain Draco fell to the Death Guard at the Battle for Legion Gate and his successor, Captain Claine is a man of such vision, that he instantly saw a use for the War Crows.

Additional support in the form of the Primaris Marines saw the War Crows' number increase by ten percent. Though not Nacoma-born, they were of Raven Guard gene-stock and quickly became an integral part of the War Crows chapter. The Raven Guard and War Crows took the fight to the enemies of the Imperium once more. Claiming Worlds new and old in the name of Guilliman and the Emperor. The rapid strike, and hit-and-run tactics of both chapters saw their enemies destroyed or fleeing.

The War Crows Chapter master Chief Mountain Peak heard rumours of a small band of Gore Children in a nearby Sector. Upon arrival, he found them to be unaware of their presence. They were too enraptured in the wanton slaughter of the populace that they left their rear exposed, and the War Crows swooped in and claimed their skulls in revenge.

MIXED FEELINGS

Such brutality had only ever been witnessed by the Blood Angels and the Space Wolves. Other Space marine chapters were wary of this new army. The War Crows were largely unheard of, and some mistook them for renegades on account of their brutal methods; the taking of skull-trophies and the War paint on their armour. It took all but a blood oath by the Raven Guard to stop the Imperium from sending their most loyal chapters to seek out and destroy the War Crows. Many times their methods were questioned, but their loyalty to the Emperor was never in doubt.

WAR CROWS HEIRARCHY

The War Crows are, and will always be, a family of sorts. The leadership is comprised of Chiefs and Shamans, with warriors and scouts taking the most active roles in the theatre of War. They utilise their more human family members for day-to-day activities. Unlike other chapters, they do not regard their kin as serfs, and have very few servitors. Any they do have are not of their gene-stock as this is considered a damnation to their heritage.

The Chiefs are the War-leaders. They are chosen from among their number for their strong leadership and warrior abilities. There is one High Chief who is in charge of each company within the chapter.

The Shaman comprise Chaplains, Apothecaries and Librarians. They differ from other Space marine chapters, in that the Shaman fulfil all three roles in equal measure. They are the spiritual leaders and the healers. Some even have psychic powers and can use this ability as well as any other librarian.

All are warriors and they adorn their armour with trinkets, war paint and affectations. Some adorn their armour with feathers, some with animal bones and some carry the heads of the slain. Each warrior has his own marking, which they have used since being a brave.

The braves are the scouts of the chapter. They are the raw recruits. They infiltrate the enemy lines and gather intelligence, much like their ancestors would gather food and information on their enemies.

LANGUAGES AND NAMES

All War Crows have a known name and a secret name. Their language is that of a long line of natives from Old Earth, where few have maintained the language through teaching word of mouth. They openly speak Gothic, as is the language of the Imperium.

Each warrior, no matter their position within the heirarchy has two names: one they are called openly in gothic. The other, their Crow name, is spoken in their native tongue. Very few outside of the chapter know them by their Crow name, as to know this is to be included in their society in some capacity.

As with all chapters of Space Marines, the War Crows eschew outsiders in the matters of chapter law and politics. Of the millions of Imperial servants, only a handful have been permitted to enter the inner sanctum of the War Crows flagship. Those that have, will have been invited because of a blood tie or some act of friendship towards the chapter. Within this sanctum, they would be permitted to share the Lakota (or ceremonial pipe) and talk as men."

You can see all our pics on FB but below are mine.

[/url]https://www.facebook.com/WarCrowsSpaceMarines/

Why is this in the painting showcase section?

It's a link to our painted models. I have added some images of my models in the original post

I like the concept, and I like the little flourishes like the war paint slash though the eye of the sergeant. Strictly speaking I know this is the showcase but I appreciated the lore behind the concept.

These guys rock. Great details that sell the concept. If you are concerned about having the thread in a different forum, you can ask a mod to move it.

Keep up the good work!

Great concept and execution!
The models look awesome.