Full Army Photo
Unit Photos
My first unit, Brown Raven's Squad, I name my units after the Sergeant for simplicity. A useful solid unit with Hellfire rounds on a Heavy Bolter and with a Powerfist the sergeant has the capacity to rip up armoured units.
Running Bear, my counts as Telion Equivalent (well until I get a better model done!). A very effective squad, I use them for camping on my objective as their long reach is fantastic. They have never yet failed to recoup their cost, remember do not move them and remember +4 always wounds regardless (remember Rends on a 6!), you can offset the crap BS of scouts by taking more of them 9 sniper rifles and a Heavy bolter (Hellfire round uses Scatter dice and anything under the template wounds on 2+)!
Stone Calfs Squad, is my Scout Assault unit and when they use the cerberus launcher on the Storm Eagle (below) are extremely effective. (+3A in Assualt with a Sergeant +4) thats alot of dice, plus the Leadership test reduction means you can have even Elite units running for the hills. I use them very aggressively and in a bold manner to capture high ground/ enemy positions or objectives.
I have recently changed tactics with my scouts, Take Shotguns and CC weapons with the Sgt with PF and Shotgun or Sgt PF, and Combi-Flamer. It is an all out assault unit, using a unit like this with Kayvann Shrike is very deadly as they get move through cover and Fleet!
The Solid War Horse that moves my squads around, sometimes give it a MM, but I find the HB useful especially against vehicles with low armour values, even a Glancing hit can affect the game. The turboboosting +4 Save is a god send. I am looking to expand my Squadon of storm to 3, So my Snipers can move to dominant ground outside of my deployment zone.
Red Deers Squad is a solid tactical squad, that performs well if not magnificently. Good against Hordes, needs to move from cover to cover. Really needs a Rhino to improve its chances of success in future games.
Crazy Stoat is the opposite number of Red Deer and is used in much the same fashion. Stalwart and solid, however they are never going to set the world alight.
Red Cloud has in the past had some success when fielding a 10man Squad. The HB, LC and ML in One Combat Squad and the MM Marine with 4 other marines in the other. Notable Achievements getting blasted completely off the board in turn One in most games even when in fortifications! One good episode when MM Marine toasted Three Razorbacks over a 5 turn game!
Chief Tomahawk is Master of the Watch and therefore Commander of the 2nd Company. He is a capable commander, but his reliance on a Thunder hammer means he often takes appalling wounds before overpowering his enemies. He is accompanied by the Tech Shaman of the 2nd Company Red Mountain. The other model is a spare Captain model as I prefer to have Captain with a PW/ RB which doesn't sacrafice his I5 which is pretty good especially with the strength boost from a RB.
Chief Tomahawks Command Squad is a capable section who protect and serve him in Battle and have had notable successes including destroying a 10 Chaos Terminators in close combat.
The 1st Company is known as the Venerable Claws and is lead by Chief Fighting wolf, who is distinctive in his Armour and his Power Sword.
Here he is escorted here by Chief Librarian Old moon and several of his Veteran Sergeants.
Kicking Elk is a strong Leader and has fought thousands of battles and is a specialist in Opposed or Counter boarding Operations.
Crazy Blood is an Assault Terminator with a stern and ferocious nature. Specialising in pinpoint close assault from deepstrike and leading forlorn assaults against fortifications.
Chief Horse Running is the longest serving Veteran in the Bear Claw Chapter, he is not strictly a Chief but is given this Honorific title due to his being in charge of Chapter Masters Honour Guard. He is a specialist in neutralising enemy command nodes and will assault enemy leaders and characters without hesitation.
Grey Fox is the Senior most Veteran Sergeant of the Sternguard. He is a master of combat tactics and has held the line against Tyranids, Orks and Necrons on hundreds of planets. He has single handedly turned many battles with his timely intervention. He also draws many Combi Weapons for his squads as he prefers the tactical flexibility they offer.
My Dreadnoughts both pretty good, I like the MM + PF Combo but I have magnetised them so I can swap out the weapons at will.
Sky Wing is a useful unit with a MM and is good at destroying enemy armour.
My Whirlwind, pretty useless actually no idea why I have it.
My Twin Linked Las.
My Pred
My Pred with a different weapons.
Characters
CHARACTERS
Chief Silvertip is the current Chapter Master and is the longest serving Warrior in the Chapter. At 5 Century’s old he has presided over the chapter for 2 centuries. His companion and bodyguard is URSUS a Great Bear of Manitou which accompanies him on the battlefield. The Spear of Scippio remains his badge of Office and his primary close combat weapon. His Armour is a suit of ancient Armour from the days of the first founding and is believed to have been recovered from the ultramarine chapter and touched by The Great Bear Claw himself. This is combined with the Spear of Scippio make him a formidable foe on any battlefield.
He is usually accompanied by an Honour Guard of 4 of his most veteran Warriors usually selected from the Venerable Claws who aspire to be the Chiefs of the 10 great companies.
Silvertip made a name for himself as a Devastator Sergeant during the pivotal engagement with the Dark Eldar during the infamous Atavan Campaign. As a senior astartes of two centuries experience he was second in command of a devastator squad and when his sergeant was killed by a plasma Gun malfunction, he took over the squad and directed fire for 4 days without interruption against Dark Eldar and Pirate vehicles. He personally credited with 25 vehicle kills with a Lascannon in a single day. This heroic defence against their sworn enemy,the Dark Eldar, elevated him into the sternguard and ultimately to the Chapter Honour Guard.
The previous Chapter Master considered his counsel superior to that of his other Senior Astartes and he was promoted above veteran Sergeants directly to the 9th Company. This tension soon dissipated when all Officers agreed he was of great potential and he served a further 2 centuries until the passing of the old Chapter Master on the battlefield of Xeres battling A Dark Apostle and Silvertip as the most senior astartes was declared the new Chapter Master,
My Master of Recruits of the 10th Company, Chief Dancing Hawk (used as my Leader when i field a Scout Army)
Chief Dancing Hawk is the master of Recruits (Or Chief of the Braves as I prefer to call him)
BRAVES (SPACE MARINE SCOUTS)
The ancient ritual of Counting coup is the winning of prestige in battle by the initiates or Braves. An initiate or Brave cannot be taken in as a full Warrior/ Astartes until he has completed his training and committed Count Coup under the eyes of the Chief Dancing Hawk the master of recruits.
The most prestigious acts included touching an enemy warrior, with the hand then escaping unharmed. Counting coup could also involve stealing from the enemy. Risk of injury or death was required to count coup. Coups are recorded by notches in the coup stick, or by feathers in the headdress of a warrior who was rewarded with them for an act of bravery. It is widely known that Bear Claw Braves commit near suicidal feats of bravery to be inducted as a full Warriors Astartes.
Chief Dancing Hawk was renowned for his ability to Count Coup on his enemies and famously stalked a Lictor as a Brave and Counted Coup on the Creature. Chief Silvertip was the Master of the Recruits during this period and was impressed by this Young Recruit and awarded him the right to hold 5 White Eagle Feathers to denote his supreme achievement.
Dancing Hawk formed a strong bond with Veteran Sergeant Telion of the Ultramarines. Telion sought out the young Scout who had bested a Lictor in Stalking on the field of battle. Telion was impressed with the young Marines skills and was seconded to the Chapter to train their braves in advanced ballistic techniques. Dancing Hawk was subsequently inducted into a Tactical Squad as full marine. Telion however had seen a second Brave with great Potential, Running Bear.
RUNNING BEAR – Senior Sergeant 10th Company
His Skills were legendary and he attempted to Count Coup on a Tyranid Carnifex, but the Creature had adapted to his environment. His attempt failed as the Tyranid leapt on him and cleaved his Arm off. Only the intervention of Sergeant Telion with a Sniper Rifle killed the Tyranid saving Running Bear.
Dancing Hawk, impressed at the Tenacity and gall of the Young Marine decided he would be more useful to remain a Scout for many Years. Running Bear has learned much from his Ultramarine tutor and now is considered his equal, after promotion to full marine Running Bear was discovered to be ill suited for Line Infantry work, he pined constantly to move forward under stealth and found Power Armour to be restrictive and noisy. Eventually at the behest of the Chief of the 3rd Company, Running Bear was sent back as a Squad Leader to the 10th Company. His Abilities have continued to grow and he is now the equal of Telion upon the field of battle. He is easily distinguished on the field of battle by his Sniper rilfe and bionic left Arm.
Army List
Why I Started This Army
I wanted an Original Army, and I looked for inspiration I remembered the Deathwing Story. I feel the Dark Angels have not embraced the Native American Indian Theme in recent years. This chapter is codex and a descendant from the Ultramarines. I have a complete Codex for my Chapter but I use them Vanilla for Tournament games. I have a quick history here.
Background and History of the Bear Claws
The Planet Manitou
There was once a time when this world was filled with contented people, when all Nations were as one and the crimson tide of war had not begun to raise. None were in want, sickness was unknown, 'The People', the lone inhabitants of the planet Manitou, they numbered in the millions and lived as nature intended them to live, enjoying its many blessings. They watched the stars; to gaze at them longingly, for they believed them to be the home of the good spirits that had been taken home by the 'Great Spirit'. All 'The People' held this belief. An ancient legend told of the Sacrifice of a great many Shamans in the early times, they had seen the future and knew what would come to pass. The Great Spirit no longer answered their calls, and the Evil Ones were gathering at the edge of the spirit realm. A Great Council of Shamans came together, they decided they must act together to defend the People from that which was to come. The rites of Sacrifice were performed and in the Spirit Realm the Great Star Child was Born and his Spirit made Flesh. The so called All Father of the People who can never truly die.
His life has continued for Eons and he has guided the People through the greatest and most dire periods of the peoples existence. He lives only to be defender of all the people until the time of the spirit awakening. The Day came when The All Father descended from the Stars and his symbol was the Twice Headed Eagle. He walked amongst the people and was beheld as The All Father of the People, for he was the very embodiment of an ancient Legend of Terra passed from Shaman to Shaman for almost 20,000 summers.
--Gallery:2010/8/26/133641_sm.jpg-
He came to tell the people of the great designs he had for the stars. That he required the greatest warriors amongst them to join him on his quest to unite all the people and defend them from the darkness. The all father held great trials on the Plains of Iowa, Every Tribe sent a Thousand Young Braves at his Call. The Gathering of the nations took many months, but as autumn came the Trials of the All Father began. 40,000 Braves fought Animals, tamed beasts, endured pain beyond measure and fought one another to the Death. After 10 Days, 500 remained. These 500 braves joined the 15th Chapter of the Ultramarines Legion. The Greatest of their Number was a hardy Warrior named Bear Claw.
The Ultramarines 15th Chapter fought for a further twelve Summers during the Great Crusade, The Great Guilliman, son of the All Father, was impressed by the Warrior Skills of the People of manitou and soon Bear Claw, renamed Scippio , came to prominence as the greatest warrior of his chapter and became the All Fathers Champion. The All Father however, was suffering greatly as the Evil Spirits arose and devoured the souls of his sons. It was a time when brother fought brother until only those true defenders of the People were left. The Battle for the Souls of the People began, the period shall forever be known as the Horus Heresy. The Word Bearers Legion turned on the People and the all father. They isolated the Ultramarines from Terra. The Ultramarines fought a desperate campaign to free themselves of the Word Bearers and render assistance to their Brothers on Terra. The 15th Chapter suffered greatly losing half its number in the Word Bearers Initial assault including its Chapter Master. Scippio realising the dire nature of the Battle assumed local command and took the initiative boarded an Assault Torpedo with a company of surviving Braves. In a stroke of tactical Genius they boarded the Command Bridge of the Word Bearers Strike Crusier. Scippio steered the Vessel into the heart of the Word Bearers Fleet, setting off charges on the Plasma Drive before escaping into the vacuum of space. In this action one third of the Word Bearers Fleet was destroyed or crippled, the tables turned on the Word Bearers and the supreme tactical genuis of Guilliman instantly took the initiative from the opportunity Scippio had provided. The Word Bearers withdrew to the eye of terror, leaving devastation and isolated pockets of renegades and cultists in their wake. Horus was defeated by the All Father but was mortally wounded. Guilliman was inconsolable at the incarceration of the All Father in the Golden Throne, The realm of Ultramar fell silent in mourning and Guilliman blamed himself for the Betrayal of Horus and his brothers. Guilliman took Command of the fledgling Imperium. His dictates on the Codex Astartes were rigidly adopted by the Ultramarine Chapters as the Second Founding began. To defend and rebuild the All fathers Realm. The Ultramarines 15th Chapter numbering only 350, was called to Hera. Scippio was appointed the Chaptermaster and Guilliman granted his young Champion a private audience. In a rare indulgence Guilliman granted permission for Scippio to revert to his original name and be appointed Chief of the Chapter, sensing great faith and strength within the people of Manitou he decided to harness their natural strengths. Adeptus Astartes were not to be renamed upon induction in the Chapter. He also decreed that the newly formed Bear Claw Chapter should return to Manitou and establish an orbital fortress in accordance with the Codex Astartes and begin recruiting. Chief Bear Claw decreed annual Autumn trials to be conducted and that Spirit Father Chaplains were to oversee the trials and judge who was worthy of becoming a Sky Warrior. The Bear Claws spent 2 Years building their chapter to full strength, the Autumn trial was the Greatest ever held and over 500 Braves were recruited into the new Chapter. Chief Bear Claw prepared a Battle Fleet and set his Chapter on a course to destroy the remaining Word Bearers. Chief Bear Claw personally led a Warrior Hunt across the entire realm on Ultramar hunting down pockets of Chaos Marines and particularly the Word Bearers their sworn mortal enemies. He left his second in command Chief Raven Cloud of the 1st Company to rule Manitou and defend the sector. Chief Raven Cloud was a master tactician and supreme strategist, the planet of Manitou could not have been left in safer hands. For many decades Raven Cloud organised the homeworld, its affairs, rivalry’s and factions and maintained a steady flow of reinforcements to the Chapter Master. The Warrior Hunt led by Bear Claw slew thousands of Renegade Marines and hounded the remnants to the point that many splinter fleets fled the system heading for the eye of terror. In the intervening years The Planet flourished as never before, the ancient ways were preserved and industry and organised agriculture were eschewed or moved onto different parts of the sector. This encouraged the feral tribal culture needed to breed hardy warriors for the chapter.
It was 10 Years after the fall of Horus and The Orbital defense stations were being upgraded and were nearing completion when suddenly a Xeno fleet materialised out of the ether. The Dark Eldar swooped on Manitou, keen on enslaving as many of the People as possible. The 1st Company of Venerable Claws lead 100,000 Native Warriors and fought a desperate and tactically sound rear guard action against the Dark Eldar. Protecting the Nations from becoming enslaved and moving the people to easily defended natural features. Chief Bear Claw was enraged at the gall of the Dark Eldar and his own personal failure to defend a Realm of the All Father and the Great Guilliman. He ordered an immediate Warp jump to Manitou. Dropping out of the Warp four days later on the Ursus of Fury he fought a ferocious and unrelenting battle against the Eldar and targeted the waiting Slave ships. The Chief of the Venerable Claws, Raven Cloud, reported his Company was at 30% strength and most of the Native Male Warriors were dead. They were unable to defend all of the People from the Dark Eldar Slavers, but would sell their lives dearly. Seeing the Slave shuttles coming from the Surface, taking his people into slavery, Bear Claw lost all tactical and strategic reasoning. Incandescent with Rage, he used a boarding torpedo and stormed the Dark Eldar Command ship with only his personal retinue. The eleven man honour guard fought like warriors of Legend, clearing deck after deck in a righteous frenzy. With their ammunition quickly expended It took 4 hours of hand to hand combat to clear the Ship up to the Command deck. Storming the Bridge, bear Claw instantly eyed the Lord Haemonculus, using his Great Spear he severed the Lord at the neck. The Lord Harmonculus, whilst losing his precious life blood and seconds from death exacted his final revenge and in a cruel twist of irony detonated the main Engines of the Dark Eldar Ship, killing all including Chief Bear Claw and his Entourage.
The detonation of the Dark Eldar Command ship allowed the Ursus of fury to manoeuvre in close to engage the remaining Dark Eldar ships. The Ursus of Fury unleashed its gun batteries and torpedoes and destroyed all eldar ships within minutes. The 1st Battle of Manitou was over, the most senior survivor was Chief Raven Cloud who managed to hold off and eventually defeat the Dark Eldar Raiders Planetside with a single Squad of Venerable Claw terminators. With the Chapter master Dead and the 1st Company in tatters, The surviving Company’s of all the Bear Claws were recalled for a Great Gathering. The Tribal Chiefs (Captains) and their Spirit Shamans (Librarians) all voted for Raven Cloud to become the New Chapter master after his masterful Tactical rearguard action that saved the People of their Home World. The loss of Geneseed was painful, but could be recovered from, however the reduction of the Male population meant that it would hundreds of years before the Male population was large enough to sustain a continuous supply of Young Braves for the Autumn Trials. Chief Raven Cloud lived for a further 500 Summers and rebuilt the Chapter and fought a thousand battles on hundreds of worlds. He remained a master tactician and laid the foundations of being masters of line infantry tactics & rear guard actions.
In honour of the former chapter master, the artificers create a Sacred relic Weapon. The Item they created was a copy of original spear of Scippio, named the “Defender of the People” and this remains only in the hands of the Chapter Master and is his seal of authority and Honorific title.
Chief Silvertip Master of the Bear Claws.
ORKS KILL BECAUSE THEY ARE BRUTES
TYRANIDS KILL BECAUSE THEY ARE RAVENOUS
ELDAR KILL FOR THEIR OWN ENDS
CHAOS KILL TO SATISIFY THEIR LUSTING SPIRITS
DARK ELDAR KILL TO SATISIFY THEIR OWN LUST
BUT WE, WE WARRIORS, WE DANCE THROUGH THE FLAMES,
OF A GALAXY SPINNING AND BURNING,
WE HAVE BUT ONE REASON FOR BEING,
AS WE WERE CHARGED IN THE EARLY TIMES,
THE ALL FATHER DECREED,
DEFEND THE PEOPLE,
PROTECT THEM FROM THE SPIRIT DARKNESS THAT IS DESCENDING,
STANDFAST IN THE STORM
STAND IN THE RAIN OF BLOOD
HOLD TRUE TO YOUR SOUL
LET NO DARK SPIRIT CORRUPT YOU
BELIEVE IN THE ANCIENT WAYS
THERE IS NO GOD
BUT THERE ARE SPIRITS AND THEY GUIDE US
AND THE ALL FATHER IS THE GREATEST OF THE SPIRIT GUIDES
He is the All Father of the People and shall be praised
Sermon from the chief chaplain black eagle, spirit guide of the all father,
The Legend of Black Eagle
Chaplain Black Eagle has won great renown as a skilled and a steadfast Warrior who has proved his worth in holding his ground in the face of insurmountable odds on many occasions.
Formerly known as the Brave Grey Eagle, his actions as a Brave were desperate and bloody affairs. During the Atavan Campaign against a Dark Eldar incursion, Grey Eagle was shot down in his Thunderhawk along with 3 Squads of Braves. The Thunderhawk impact killed 9 Braves and 4 Squad leaders, taking command of all the remaining braves he hastily organised an ambush and awaited the Dark Eldar Reconnaissance party. The 7 Scouts conducted a successful ambush and neutralised 3 Dark Eldar vehicles, fighting a running battle for over 2 weeks the Scouts dwindled to 4 and eventually 2 Grey Eagle and White Face. Their subsequent escape and return to the chapter with 18 Geneseed canisters was lauded as an incredible feat.
Grey Eagle in later campaigns ascended to become a Tactical Warrior of considerable skill, eventually becoming a Sergeant. It was at this point that it was noted that Grey Eagle had exceptionally high casualty numbers within his squad, and yet he would always hold his warriors together taking exceptional risks with his own life. His Warriors would not yield and give ground as they believed Grey Eagle was blessed by the All father. Chief Silvertip often used this to his advantage using his squad to reinforce flagging sections of line. Warriors began to refer to Grey Eagle as “Black Eagle” or “the one who walks in deaths shadow”. Naturally Grey Eagle was promoted into the Sternguard, and in a Canny and wise move requested to be renamed to Black Eagle.
At the turning of the tide against Hive Fleet Kraken, Black Eagle Held a Single Bastion of the line with his Squad. Black Eagle gave no ground against the Tyranid Hordes, but ultimately this decision cost the chapter dearly as several Thunderhawks and LandSpeeders were destroyed trying to rescue the Squad. Black Eagle insisted that he required no rescue and should have continued to fight.
Chief Silvertip became ever more concerned about the tactical sense of using Black Eagle especially with regard to morale and the rapidly reducing numbers in the Sternguard Company. Infact the opposite was true, the Sternguard squads believed Black Eagle was the ultimate embodiment of their art, the holding of the line against insurmountable odds heedless of the risk of death. In a wise and brilliant decision, Chief Silvertip decreed Black Eagle to be indoctrinated into the Chaplaincy.
This move safeguarded against the unhealthy veneration of death that was developing in the sternguard squads and yet still allowed Black Eagle to be an Inspiration in the line of battle and have the initiative and autonomy to exercise independent command. It remains a closely guarded secret as Chief Silvertip was concerned that if this decision ever became common knowledge it would be construed as an insult to Black Eagles Honour and the Morale and cohesion of his Chapter would break apart.
Black Eagle remains the most dangerous Warrior within the Chapter, his battlefield prowess, ability to inspire and give stirring Sermons puts him well beyond his peers.
1st COMPANY THE VENERABLE CLAWS
Within the Tribal Nations of Manitou great veneration and respect is given to the elders of a Tribe. The constant tribal Warfare and shifting alliances mean only the best warrior, most canny and cunning Warriors make it to old age.
The Chapter carries this custom forward into the field of battle as those of 1st Company are known as the Venerable Claws. Each member of the 1st Company is highly honoured on the planet of Manitou and is given leave by the Chapter master to settle disputes as a Tribal Chief, the word of a Venerable Claw is Law upon Manitou and must be obeyed by all, regardless of their position within society. They act as the spiritual, cultural and warrior heart of the Chapter.
On very special occasions, the 1st Company are allowed to walk amongst the people in the Ancient and priceless terminator Armour, their armour covered in Bear Pelts and blessed tokens of the All father. The most important annual event is the Autumn Trials, during this period a Representative of the 1st Company is sent to preside over the event. He will be called “The Great Bear” and dressed in great Ceremonial Terminator Armour covered in a Giant Bear Pelt. He alone will judge those braves worthy to be sent to Chief Dancing Hawk.
The Vanguard Company have an affinity for using Lightening claws in the assault and are renowned for their relentless heavy assaults on enemy positions. This is usually supported with Armour and Dreadnoughts. Veteran Sergeant Mountain Bear born of the Pawnee tribe, is famous within the chapter due to his oversize Terminator armour and his eschewing of ranged weaponry. He fights only with Lightening claws.
The Stern Guard Company have built a reputation and that of the chapter around fighting withdrawals. A fighting withdrawal in contact with the enemy is the hardest task to achieve and requires discipline, co-ordination and timing. The Bear Claws are amongst the finest line infantry in the galaxy and will always, in accordance with the Codex Astartes seek to deny the enemy the chance to do battle on its own terms in a place of its choosing.
Often the Bear Claws will perform a fighting withdrawal in contact with the enemy until they draw the enemy on to the killing ground of their choosing. It is at this point that a counter assault will be conducted lead by the Vanguard Company. The Heavy Assault will go in and the Sternguard or line Companies will move forward to consolidate in the wake of the assault.
This strategy has proved particularly successful against Tyranids, with squads drawing the enemy into killing zones and slowly cutting down their numbers before unleashing a devastating maelstrom of firepower into the killing zone, followed by the Vanguard, Armour and Feral Claws moving immediately into the assault.
The current Chief of the 1st Company is Fighting wolf a ferocious Vanguard veteran of over 2 centuries experience. All members of the Venerable Claws are awarded a Black Tail on their helmets to denote their Veteran status.
