Full Army Photo
Chapter Information
Chapter Badge:
Sucessors of: Space Wolves
Successors: None
Founding: 13th
Current Chapter Master: Mark Ursus the Thirty Eighth
Homeworld: Thisdor, on the Eastern Fringes, Centarus Arm
Fortress: Cavernoss (The Cave)
Colors: Black, White, Brown
Speciality: Defensive/Shooting (70%), Close Combat (30%), Tyranids
Warcry: “May your Bolters roar!”... Rest say “For the Emperor and the Great Bear!”
Current Strength: ~ 1200 Battle Bears
Notable Battles
- Defense of Jango Hive- from Hive Fleet Scarabus
- Reclamation of Altarane- Three forces: War Bears, Warboss Runamok and a Night Lord contingent
- The First 99- the first century after being formed, fought to defend Thisdor and system from eldar, orks and heretical uprising, reduced to ~240 battle brothers. 100 year “Hibernation” Followed
- Cantorri Campaign- Fight across the Cantorri System w/ Imperial Fists 4,7, and 8th Companies c. M36.893-925 vs. Black Legion
Cantorri Campaign- M36.893-925
A joint campaign between the Imperial Fists 4,7, and 8th Companies and the majority of the War Bears Chapter to wipe out a Chaos stronghold in Imperial Space. While it was unbeknown to the joint task force the entire system was worshipping Chaos and that a large force of Black Legionnaires were massing along with some renegades. Only a small Imperial fortress stood with 3 loyal regiments of PDF and local navy in support. The long war of hopping from one planet and another leaving it to Imperial Guard reinforcements once pacified and leaving defenses and emplacements to keep order. War Bears began to shy away from their Space Wolf heritage and adopted Imperial Fist traditions.
Unique Characteristics
Creation of the Chapter and ‘Mutation’
War Bears were created from Space Wolf geneseed. While the SW geneseed was under speculation for mutation, the seed was in dire need for a new Chapter on the Eastern Fringes to fend off encroaching xenos. While the first generation of Bears, acted and fought very similarly to the Space Wolves, the newer generations become less aggressive and less wolf like features, due to Thisdor and heavy interaction with the Imperial Fists. However they gained more strength, a much stronger sense of smell and a more solitary attitude, yet retaining the sense of a brotherhood of warriors. With the physical change, there came an internal change as well. When trying to master the animal instead, many would refer to the animal as a bear, lumbering and huge, growling to be set free to do as it pleases, and tearing and swiping at the mental chains that bind it. Those few that fall prey to the animal within are turned into a servitor preforming heavy labor and other chapter needs.
Hibernation Time
A time when the entire chapter is home at Cavernoss. It is one year out of every decade in which the chapter goes among the thousands of tiny villages dotted across the heavily forested planet gathering recruits, turning recruits into neophytes and neophytes into scouts. And a replenishing of supplies, men and stories.
From each village 2 recruits between 11 and 15 years of Thisdor age are brought to an outpost called The Mount. Recruits spend the next year undergoing training of fighting skills, intelligence tests, physical, mental, and soul screening, and taught the basic tenets of the Imperial Creed and lore of the Chapter.
However to create a positive view of the chapter and keep the population of Thisdor going throughout the centuries. Those recruits that do not pass any screening is sent back to their village to be a leader and raise a son that could possibly continue on to serve the chapter.
At the end of the year, a ceremony is held at the mount where the Master of Recruits (11th company captain (Scouts)), the Master of the Fortress (2nd company captain), the Guide of Recruits (A Chapter Priest), each bringing a small entourage, accept the recruits that have made it through the rigorous year of training and such and now have the chance to serve the chapter as neophytes to later become Scouts and then battle brothers. It is entirely by their choice to continue on. At the end of the ceremony the Guide and two captains raise the ceremonial bolters. The Guide roars “May our Bolters roar!”, they all fire at the same time, all those inducted into the chapter shout “To the Emperor and the Great Bear!”
The following nine years the recruits now neophytes of the chapter undergo surgeries, hyno conditioning, weapons training, and learn the ways of the Chapter. While doing this they serve directly the Majordomo of The Cave, who is a Chapter serf appointed by the current Great Bear, to be in charge of the necessary doings around the fortress.
It is aslo during this time that a neophyte is under the care and tutelage of Battle Bear, who acts as a teacher and master to the neophyte. The Battle Bear gives him tips, insights, advice and most of all the lore of the Chapter, this includes certain battle tactics and tales, telling the neophyte of the greatness and honour that the Chapter has earned.
By the time the next Great Hibernation comes around, the neophytes are inducted into the chapter as Scouts in front of the whole chapter. Undergoing the same ceremony that they went through as recruits, except it is presided by the Priest Lord, the Great Bear, and all of the Captains. Ending the same as before.
Weapons
Lightning Claws- 'Ursus' Pattern
Curved claws not to the point of talon shape but of the shape of the predatory bear's claw. Designed to grab and rip and leave as much damage behind. Sharpened on the inside of claw and serrated on the back. Worn only by the select terminator squads, Chapter Master who has one on his left fist and has an integrated bolter, and also the 4th Captain has one on his left as well.
Chapter Master's Weapons
Thunder Axe- “Fellcutter”-
It was first wielded by the first Great Bear, Mark Ursus. The Axe gained the name ‘Fellcutter’ when Conar Scartooth stuck a mountain with it and caused the monoliths, of a foul sorcery taking place at the summit, to collapse. The resulting explosion, of warp and reality slamming back into place, destroyed the nearby enemy forces resulting in victory for the Bears.
Lightning Claw w/ integrated Storm Bolter- ‘The Bear’s Might’
Ursus pattern Lightning Claw with a storm bolter attached where a normal chainblade is attached on a chainfist. Roared the deaths of multiple deamons, Chaos Marines, eldar, and a handful of Hive Tyrants and Guards.
Chapter Codex Rules
According to Marik Law’s Chapter Creator
Combat Practices
Talons of the Eagle: All lightning claws in the chapter count as being master-crafted. Also, any model or unit which may take a power weapon but does not normally have access to lightning claws may replace their bolter/bolt pistol or close combat weapon with a single lightning claw for +15 points or both for a pair of lightning claws at +30 points.
With the Emperor’s Grace The homeworld of the chapter inhabits has very rough terrain, whether it be dense forests, deep mud, or other impediments which make even walking rather difficult, thus causing the chapter to adapt methods to navigating such types of terrain. All models in the chapter count as having the Move Through Cover universal special rule and models equipped with bikes have the Skilled Rider universal special rule. Additionally, vehicles may re-roll any failed dangerous terrain test.
Chapter Tactics
Through Faith We Gain Strength: The chapter is either fanatical in their devotion to the Emperor, their religion, or the Imperial Creed or they require much stronger spiritual guidance to an extent where they have larger numbers of chaplains present within the chapter than most other chapters do. Chaplains count as Elites choices instead of HQ choices and you may take up to three as a single Elites choice. A Chaplain can be upgraded to a Reclusiarch for +30 points. Reclusiarchs remain as HQ choices and gain +1 to Ballistic Skill, Wound, Initiative and Attack. Reclusiarchs have the same upgrade options, wargear, and special rules as Chaplains. Reclusiarchs are only 1 per HQ slot. Additionally, you may take/create more than one Hero that is a Master of Sanctity.
Faith Is Its Own Reward:Allows you to upgrade any Sergeant (excluding Scout Sergeants) in the army to a Priest Sergeant for +30 Points. A Priest Sergeant has the same wargear and options as the Sergeant he was upgraded from, however he has a Leadership value of 10 instead of 9 and also has the Liturgies of Battle and Honour of the Chapter special rules as well, thought he can only confer these special rules onto the squad he joins.
Current Masters of the Chapter
- Great Bear Mark Ursus the 38th- Leader of the Chapter for the past 150 years. Usually humorous for a Chapter Master, loves to play pranks on his fellow comrades that are still serving throughout the Chapter. The Ursus is the epitomy of a War Bear, with the perfect combination of defensive and offensive tactical knowledge, molded by centuries of war against many different foe. His hair nearly covers his face there is so much, and has a color of stainless steel. A great black bear’s fur hangs from his left shoulder, shrouding ‘Bear’s Might.’ Commands his Honoured Bear Guard and the Grey Beards.
- Master Psykan Arthur "Fisher King" Kigdore- has a cursed wound, granted by a Word Bearer’s possessed blade, on the right leg that never will heal. Master in name, the Librarius acts as a council due to the lack of psychic beings in the Chapter and from Thisdor.
- Reclusiarch Petrus Trimaul- Has an honor guard of two veteran chaplains that act as body guards and tend to the needs of the Reclusiam, Chapter, and other Chaplains should the Reclusiarch be occupied. While he wields the crozius acranum and a power fist, the two honor guards, named Suffragrans, each wield a storm bolter and a lightning claw, along with the Rosarius.
- Master Forgesmith Blaise Mucchane- Keeper of the Relic Museum, tends to keep to his cogitators and forges close to the heart of Thisdor. His servitors are mostly failed aspirants who have succumbed to the inner bear and changed to serve the will of the Forgesmith. However he has 'taught' a Bearman (A War Bear that has been overcome by the Bear inside) to act as the Master Servitor, being a bodyguard and companion to Mucchane.The Bearman is considered to be a apart of the same family line that Mucchane was recruited from.
- Master of the Animal- Captain Sampson Craktooth, 1st Company- 2nd in command of the Chapter, a near opposite in attitude to that of the Great Bear but not a likely successor to be Great Bear. Is the most reserved commander in the entire Chapter. And prefers to speak through actions rather than words.
- Master of the Axe- Captain Randolf Mittale, 2nd CompanyConsidered the hairiest and ferocious close combat brother currently within the chapter, however a newly initiated Bear, shows that Mittale will be surpassed given time. So he has taken the young cub under his tutelage and grooming him to be his successor. The most wolf like out of the War Bears and has a tendency to charge the enemy howling at the most inopportune times.
- Master of the Armoury- Captain Heath Cogar, 3rd CompanyThe oldest Bear within the chapter, and even older than Brother Dreadnought Bezon the Roar of Denith. Has served the chapter in multiple ways as a veteran, but found his true love of war as a Devastator Sergeant, later as a Sternguard Veteran. Considered extremely lucky by his company and fellow Bears due to the fact of near suicidal missions he undertakes, as if he wishes to join his long past friends in the Halls of the Emperor, and still coming out alive. Hair is completely white, wields a master-crafted storm bolter in his right and a plasma pistol in the left. Adorned with multiple trophies and talismans.
- Master of the Fortress- Captain Grante Evunberth, 4th Company- fiery character but the best defensive tactician of the chapter, second only to the Great Bear. Learned defensive strategy and fortification practice while a Tactical Sergeant working directly with the Imperial Fists task force for many decades. Wields a double bit power axe and a huge storm shield. Knows the Cave and its surrounding defenses inside and out.
- Master of the Fleet- Captain Elmo Lamasta, 10th Company One of the few Bears to be recruited from Fisher’s Island. And from his experience as a young sailor before becoming a War Bear, his knowledge of the sea and river routes translated quite well to serving as the Master of the Fleet, ordering the War Bears barges and cruisers in the immense dance of vacuum war. Named after the nearly forgotten saint of sailors, St. Elmo, and from that namesake when war is being fought in space by Captain Lamasta, the command spire from the enemies view, takes on a holy glow that inspires fear resulting in victory
- Master of the Recruits- Captain Carsen Blackfur, 11th Company
Chapter Heroes of Old
Unit Photos
War Bear's 6th Co. Captain- Gerheart Maddonfist
First complete Bear, with correct color scheme and details. Haven't yet determined who he actually is though.
Sternguard Veteran Sergeant Decios- Silver helmet, aquila, and right pauldron designate veteran status.
Army List
HQ
Captain Craktooth (Captain Lysander)
200 pts
Priest Jeulfar (Chaplain)
100 pts
TROOPS
Tactical Squad ‘Nukam’
-(10) FL, ML, Rhino
205 pts
Tactical Squad ‘Agoste’
-(10) FL, ML, Rhino
205 pts
Tactical Squad ‘Croffur’
-(10) FL, MM, Rhino
205 pts
ELITES
Sternguard Squad ‘Decios’
-(9) 5x Combi-Plas, LC
265 pts
Terminatior Assualt Squad ‘Mordclaw’
-5x Pairs of LCs, LRR ‘Animal Fury’
440
Dreadnought ‘Brucario’
-2x TL-Autocannon
125 pts
TOTAL: 1750 pts
Recent Battles
Who:Splinter Fleet Archer- Broke off of Kraken?
Where: The hill country of Aliso-55
When: Evening
What: Kill points
Points: 1750
Summary:
Part of the 4th company and a squad of from the 1st took to the plains of Aliso-55 to stop an incursion of Splinter Fleet Archer from wreaking havoc on the rest of the system. The deployment faired well for the chapter in that after seeing their forces reacted accordingly to form a bastion behind a rock outcrop and use the companies' Rhinos to at as a funnel to force the fleet into cover and stay longer in gun range before coming into close combat. Animal's Fury went the long way around to flank and proceedingly got destroyed by a Zoanthrope lance, disgorging Squad Mordclaw and Priest Jeulfar a distance away from the battle, They continued on anyways claiming a swarm of gaunts, two Zoanthropes and a Spore Pod on the Tyranid line's right flank. Dreadnought Brucario however proved to be the most valuable in this battle firing upon their Warrior brood until they were decimated. None of the Tactical squads proved to be a match for his MCs and claimed very few termagaunts, all were decimated. Squad Decios proved to be worth their value, taking out warriors and a Hive Guard with their hellfire rounds. All troops were destroyed on the field, except for two Terminators of Squad Mordclaw and the good Priest Jeulfar. Most troops however were reclaimed by later reinforcements and continued to fight, the rest were consumed to feed the Hive.
Results: Tyranids 10- War Bears 6, LOSS
MVP: Dreadnought Brucario- took 3 KPs himself, over 300+ pts worth, and assisted in wounding other units before being destroyed in turn 4.
Why I Started This Army
Well I like Space Wolves and Imperial Fists, but none fit me. So I decided to make my own with my own paint scheme and fluff…
It’s self explanatory.
