Midnight Claws

"BEHIND YOU HERETIC!"

- A Marine from the Midnight Claws chapter dragging a cultist into the dark night

The Midnight Claws are a 21st founding chimeric chapter from the linieges of the Raven Guard and White Scars. The Chapter has combined both sides of heritage into their belief system and Speciality. Opting for fast attacks during cover operations

Chapter History
The Midnight Claws are a chapter created during the 21st founding in 991.M35 with the intent of researching the stability of chimeric geneseed compared to pure ones using the the geneseeds of the Raven Guard and White Scars. As their first test in the field the Mechanicus lent a squad of the Astrates on a ork infested moon of Zorvus Omega. The mission saw the Marines use the stealth capability of the RG and the speed of the WS to easly find and kill the warboss that arose from the ork populations. The Mechanicus impressed by their skills quickly decided that the chapter should be built. The First Marine to be made nicknamed the Shadowed One was appointed as Chapter Master. The Official date of the chapter being fully built is 993.M35.

Soon after the chapter was made it was tasked by the forces of the Mechanicus to start a campaign of covert actions against cells of Alpha legionnaires that were infiltrating Chapters and weeding out the marines from inside with traitors instead. Before this however the Chapter had to first find the loyalists then separate them from the others. The campaign ended with the Chapter gaining Infamy across several systems for their nature of Bringing Judgement from the shadows.

300.M36. 1st and 2nd Companies were tasked with the eradication of outposts built by traitor guard regiments as Shrines to Khorne, inside being the mauled corpses of loyalists commissars and others that remained loyal to the emperor. The Chapters companies went for a brutal attack from the shadows leaving no traitor alive, ripping them limb to limb as revenge for the loyalists. After demolishing the outposts the would bury the corpses of the ones who didnt betray the Imperium and build a monument on each planet as a sign of respect for them.

621.M36. 4th, 7th and 9th Companies were tasked with securing Mechanicus ship convoys from possible ork raids. The Companies would encounter several waves of orks that would destroy several ships whose cargo has been saved. What wasnt known by the chapter was that a Warboss was about to start a Waagh against several systems next to their homeworld endangering it.

999.M36 Siege of Hexodivus. The Warboss and his waagh finally reached their planet. Almost all companies except for 2nd and 9th were entrenched and ready to fight to the death for their home world. In this battle their fortress monastery was destroyed leaving no trace that it ever existed. Everything inside was lost including a relic, Chapter Master Korbius and all Captains were killed. Leaving the Chapter into a schism that would last for hundreds of years. Some of Marines left the chapter for reasons unknown, only to be seen again as a warband dedicated to Chaos Undivided.

It is unknown what has occured during the 37th millennia. All files regarding this time were burnt due to unknown reasons by the Head Chaplain at that time whose name was lost in time. Current Apothecaries and Librarians of the Chapter suspect that the records were purged due to the possibility that the critical flaw in the geneseed appeared at that time and the near anihillation of the chapter for an unknown reason

001.M38. The Chapter would achive full strenght once again and begin a penance crusade for their "sins" commited in M37. During this Crusade they encountered several chapters in their own crusades of penance, making a Conclave who would adventure into the heart of long lost worlds an bringing them back into the fold of the Imperium until their penance was over.

442.M38. 7th Company recieved a message from the high lords that the chapter must retrieve a batch of acient mark 1 terminator suits from a forgeworld long devoid of life after a tyranid attack. Even though at first the area seemed secure, remaining tyranids now devolved into beasts forming the planets wildlife attacked the company left right and center. From the second of arrival and leaving they lost 35 marines each of whose geneseed and armor were unrecoverable.

777.M38. Once again the Chapters traitors would try and attack the Chapter by placing fake orders to separate companies and even squads from one another to divide them apart for an easy takeover of the chapter from within. Taking down several companies in 300 years.

202.M39. Before the traitors could destroy the chapter the Chapter Master Dominus Sebator found out about their plan and sent them to conquer planets demeed important by the Imperium. During disembarking from the Planet the Defence Force would shoot down the the strike cruisers destroying everyone aboard. Only parts and pieces could be salvaged from the ships to build only one from the 3 downed

999.M39. The Chapter would go for a relic hunt in the zone between Segmentum Ultima and Obscurus where they would fight against several secessionist planets that joined forcess with sentient species which formed an alliance. This relic hunt would prove to be fruitfull for the chapter aquiring 5 relics in total. They would donate 3 of them to the linieges they came from and kept the ones coming from acient White Scars/Raven Guard history.

127.M40. The Chapter met the Dragons Sanguine 2nd Grand Company while on a campaign of securing war torn worlds and removing combat gear left on the planet since the stalemates between the forces of the imperium and traitors. One such world was that of Perdita 5 where the chapter would start disassembeling acient vehicles and big emplacements to store in the cargo of their thunderhawks. The Chapter would remain in this campaign for 521 years to ensure the containment of all lost gear has been brought back into the hands of the Emperor.

888.M40. Apothecaries of the chapter began to work on a solution to fix the critical mutation formed in their geneseed. Many attempts were made to remove the flaw but in the end they couldn't do it. Losing the genetic material during each proccess. Because of such amount of geneseed loses the chapter decided to build a biologis lab under their former fortress monastery where every 10 years new subjects would be brought t be used to raise the number of genetic material to a standard amount

621.M41. The Chapter aquired several rhinos from the Adeptus Mechanicus by accident. Instead those being needed by a chapter of a similar name. The chapter would attempt to track and find the other Chapter until 812. 1 Century after giving up the 2 chapters meet each other by accident. The Midnight Claws would give Rhinos to the designated chapter. In return they got a stash of stalker bolters that were in surplus.

999.M41. The Chapter would be called to Defend Cadia during the 13th Black Crusade. The role of the chapter was to march behind the enemy line and take down the high ranking Traitors while not being spotted. This would prove far to much for the chapter due to the sheer amount of Traitors and deamons pouring in on the field. The Chapter had to resort to direct assaults decimating their numbers in the proccess. When Cadia exploded half the chapter was killed. The other half dragging themselves out to try and rebuild. Later encountering Guiliman and his primaris marines. 600 Marines would enter the chapters fold. Supriseingly when the Apothecary tested their genetic heritage it was remarkably similar to theirs. The Marines bearing characteristics similar to the battle brothers from the white hair and bright white eye to their lower frequency pitch of their voice. All except for the Genetic Meltdown flaw the old iteration of marines have.

112.M42. As apreciation from the Chapter the remaining Standard Marine companies aided Guiliman in his final pushes against the Enemies of the Imperium near and at the end of the Indomitus Crusade. The Primaris would remain on their homeworld of Hexodivus and learn of their culture and traditions.

Notable Campaigns
Until 112.M42 The Chapter didnt participate in any notable conflicts due to their lonesome nature, however due to the Primaris being added into their ranks, the chapter took initiative and now began togo on crusades with other imperial forces. Currently the 4th and 5th companies are on the world of Gurdarius Omega, When the battle will be finished a report would be sent tothe Administorum.

Chapter Homeworld
The chapters homeworld is that of Hexodivus. A planet engulfed by night with large plains and moutains. The homeworld suffered major damage to its wildlife and several continents due to the Orks invasion. The Chapter had to intervene to prevent an extinction event having to remain in a defensive state for a few hundred years.

Fortress-Monastery
The Fortress Monastery named by the Chapter as the Shadowed Bastion was a huge castle standing in the center of the 2nd Largest Continent. Spires are growing from the ground filled with artillery platforms at each level. A security tower being placed at the top where shifts of heavly armed servitors watch over the darkend land surrouding it. During the Attack of the orcs the fortress monastery was destroyed when a gargantual squigg rammed it several times. It was later rebuilt gaining a defensive wall with jagged fangs as a countermeasure for somebody trying to climb it. As of now it bears all the genetic material and relics the chapter has. Inside the Reclusium, Librarium, Apothecarion and Technorium are located.

Command Ranks

 * Chapter Master
 * Captain

Junior Ranks

 * Lieutenant
 * Sergeant

Line Ranks

 * Battle Brother
 * Neophyte

Company History

 * 1st Company:
 * 2nd Company:
 * 3rd Company:
 * 4th Company:
 * 4th Company:
 * 5th Company:
 * 6th Company:
 * 7th Company:
 * 8th Company:
 * 9th Company:
 * 10th Company:
 * 11th Company:

Chapter Beliefs
The Chapter views regular humans and astartes in the same light. As sons of the emperor with the difference that the Astartes role is that of guarding humanity until they are no longer needed.

Despite their flawed geneseed they view other Astartes that bear heavy mutations with sorrow for they may not be suited for protecting humanity anymore. When fighting along side other chapters they tend to stay out of their way and do their own buissness.

Chapter Culture
The Chapter has much more respect for their fallen then their living Astartes do to their sacrifice for humanity and the chapter. For this some maybe seen caring bones from their brethren on their right lower arm as a sign of respect and as a charm.

Every year the Marines would go on a pilgrimage to the highest point of the planet on Mount Voxan where they would begin carving the aquila on their chest with a traditional knife given by Chaplains and cut into their skin quotes spoken by the highest ranking chaplins to ever live in the entirety of the adeptus astartes.

The armor of those marines who die from the Genetic Meltdown is closed inside the Librarium until they can exorcise the soul of the dead from the armor into the after life. Because of this they view as wearing parts of one of this cursed suits to be considered insulting to the dead and will lead to punishment through exile for 10 years on a death world planet

Recruitment Process
For an Aspirant to become an Aspirant they must face 3 Challenges

The Aspirant must traverse the frozen tundra in the search of the Monastery. Along the way tens of species of carnivorous and territorial herbivours would challenge the aspirants. Those that survive all encounters would brought inside where they would train for the next task
 * Challenge 1:

Next the aspirants would have to be tested on their skill of stealth against Veterans of the Chapter manning turrets. If the aspirant is spotted he would be killed by the veteran without needing to put effort. Those that manage to go through the entire course will be packing their gear for the last task
 * Challenge 2:

The Aspirant has to fight one on one with a marine of the chapter selected by the chaplain leading the task. If the Aspirant survives 5 Minutes he would be given a knife then sent to the tallest mountain on their homeworld where the aspirant would carve the aquila on to their skin enough to be visible but not to scar their chest.
 * Challenge 3:

Chapter Gene-Seed
The Geneseed of the chapter is an almost critically flawed chimera between the Raven Guard and White Scars ones. Possessing 5 known mutations 1 of which being critical, could leading to the disbanding of the Chapter if its found out by the Mechanicus. Unlike other Raven Guard successors the Midnight Claws do not possess the white skin unique to the liniege.

Mutations:
 * Hair color mutation. Neophyte's hair slowly turns pure white in a 5 year period.


 * Eye color mutation. Marine's iris color turns into bright white color or light blue. Used by the Marines of the chapter to strike fear in their enemies when not wearing helmets.


 * Voice Mutation. The voice is very deep. Only people with good hearing can hear one speak. This aided them while infiltrating or on covert ops.


 * Increased Mobility. Their skin mutated so that during the night a similar process to photosynthesis occurs, leading to a power boost making the marine run faster for a period of time depending on the training done.

Critical Mutation:


 * Geneseed Meltdown. This mutation rarely occurs but when it does it leaves an everlasting effect upon the chapter. This mutation is triggered when the healing process begins by the Astartes body after a constant stream of very severe wounds that may or would lead to death if not treated. This mutation slowly melts down the Astartes genetic code. This leads to the Marine to slowly transform into black smoke and slowly dissipate through the face vox grill and other spots from the armor. Because of this the chapter losses big amount of gene material each century.

Chapter Organisation
The Chapter Organization is influenced by their nature of combat. Because of this the Chapter does not posses any Devastator squads or very heavy weaponry or vehicles. However the chapter posseses a ton of light vehicles and assault squads to fill their needs

Deathwatch Service
The Service to the Deathwatch is viewed in a grey light. They think its a honour to join the Long Watch to prove your skills and bring glory for the chapter. But it is also seen as a death trap. For there very big chances of them suffering from the Genetic Meltdown exposing their chapters secret. For this they rarely send more then 2 marines when asked and before sending them they undergo serious training.

Currently 2 Marines from the chapter are in the Long Watch.

Brother Conrad and Brother Kars are serving in Kill Team Damocles.

Chapter Combat Doctrine
The Doctrine of the chapter is that of fast light armor attacks and stealth infiltration. Often the marines would infiltrate bases and weaken the enemy forces by brutalizing enemy commanders then charging a light armor attack to finish off the remaining targets and to take down those that try to run away. Because of this the chapter prefers light armored vehicles over the heavy and slow war machines. The Chapter has also a thing for silent running gear and vehicles. It is stated by several other chapters that you dont know that a thunderhawk of the chaper passed above you if you didnt see it before hand or were aware of the chapters presence.

Chapter Fleet

 * Pale Knight - Battle Barge
 * Shadow Stalker - Battle Barge
 * Warp Wanderer - Strike Cruiser
 * Dusk Blade - Strike Cruiser
 * Pure Arrow - Strike Cruiser
 * Grim Rezolve - Strike Cruiser
 * War Eater - Strike Cruiser

Chapter Appearance
The Main armor color is a lighter shade of midnight blue. The lenses, shoulder pad trims, kneepads and hands are snow white

Chapter Colours
The chapter colors are Midnight Blue as Primary and Snow White as Secondary

Chapter Badge
The Chapter badge is that of a

Chapter Relics

 * Abyssal Dagger - Is a master crafted Astartes Dagger given by the Mechanicus to the First chapter master of the chapter as reward for the quick elimination of the Warboss Steel Eata on a infested moon located near the Forge World of Equinox. It is handed from Chapter Master to another each carving their names into its blade.


 * Khan's Will - Its one of the Blades that the Primarch of the White Scars Jaghatai Khan used to slay hordes of Traitors during the Horus Heresy. It is known that this blade protected the Great Khan from a Sons of Horus terminator when it deflected the bullets of the rotor cannon he was firing


 * Thorns Of Corax - It is a cluster of 21 Throwing power axes forged at the behest of Corvus Corax himself. It was used by him to train his elite guard to be able to dodge enemy fire more efficiently by throwing fast moving power axes at them. This training would rarely wound a marine due to their edges being able to be removed

Relations
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Allies
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Notable Quotes
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By The Midnight Claws
Feel free to add your own "We are the emperors shadow. We are everywhere at all times judging those that wronged the Imperium. We are Eternal!"

- Unknown Marine of the Midnight Claws

"How could our brothers betray our Chapter. Does our history and bloodlie, our beliefs mean Nothing! And then they would just come back to try and covert/destroy the rest of us!. We must purge all of them for these traitors deserve no mercy. Flay them alive if needed. We shall never have such war ever again!"

- Unknown Marine of the Midnight Claws

"This Primaris marines bear our mutations, they bear our chimeric geneseed. It seems that the Mechanicus was kind enough to make specifically mutated geneseed for our chapter. We must turn the favor back. We shall forever aid them if they need us."

- Unknown Marine of the Midnight Claws