Jackal Claws

The Jackal Claws are a semi-Codex compliant, rare Successor Chapter created during an Unknown Founding from the lineage of the stealthy and foreboding Raven Guard. This Chapter is notorious for their isolation and tendency to scavenge battlefields. They specialise in making sure the enemy is dead before they even notice the knife in their backs or the bolt round in their skulls. Furthermore, they are noted for being incredibly distant from their progenitors and fellow successors, not due to circumstances of distance or duty, but out of distrust and resentment towards Corvus Corax for banishing their ancestors long ago.

Dark Origins
The Jackal Claws origins lie with the tale of the mysterious Ashen Claws, Raven Guard legionaries exiled from the XIX Legion by Corvus Corax himself, who held loyalty to none save themselves. It is suspected that, at one point in the, a small group of Ashen Claws broke away and went on their own path. This band was comprised of legionaries who were known for an exceptional dislike of their former Primarch and Legion and a habit of salvaging battlefields, and even went as far as to attack travelling ships as pirates. With the Great Crusade stretching the Imperium far and wide, few efforts were made to deal with these pirates who sank back into the darkness as quickly as they emerged.

When the Horus Heresy broke and tore the Imperium apart, the exiles were barely fazed by the fact that the Emperor's greatest son had turned against the dream that his father had been building for centuries. Even when they heard that their former legion had been crippled at Isstvan V, the exiles didn't even make an effort to rejoin their once brothers. The exiles merely continued their piracy and attacked convoys and supply worlds that were loyalist or traitor. Many times did the leaders of the pirates debate on picking a side and there were several moments when the exiles amongst broke apart in civil war. However, as the Horus Heresy raged on into its fifth year, the exiles found the lows that the Lupercal had sunken too as they raided ships full of insane weaponry or warriors adorned in barbaric iconography. Disgusted by what they saw, the exiles began to fight for the Imperium once more and attacked only traitor fleets and outposts. Though they inflicted considerable damage, the exiles' efforts went largely unnoticed or mistaken as a group from the Shattered Legions. Regardless, the Emperor slew Horus over Terra and the traitors were driven into the Eye of Terror. Ambushing them every step of the way were the exiles who pursed the traitors not out of vengeful wrath but for the precious resources and relics they were forced to leave behind in their flight.

In the aftermath of the Great Scouring and a few years after the adoption of the Codex Astartes, an Imperial fleet came across a group of Astartes in the Ghoul Stars. Due to the disorganisation and chaos the Imperium was in, this group was assumed to be a Raven Guard Successor Chapter and were recorded as such. No one had the time to ask why this Chapter wasn't recorded along the others during their Founding nor why these Sons of Corvus Corax had little cultural similarities with their progenitors and the Jackal Claws took their place amongst the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, basing themselves on Korziqa.

The Carrion Dogs
After their entry into Imperial records the Jackal Claws sank back into the shadows of history, just where they wanted to be. Due to their reclusive nature and lack of contact with the greater Imperium, it cannot be said just how many wars the Jackal Claws have fought in the black of deep space. Nor can it be said to be important to the Jackals for they care nothing for glory and respect, fighting is simply a fact of life to them. Their tendency to keep to themselves remains even when they fight alongside other Imperial forces, only communicating about objectives and operating on their own. Jackal Claws fighting alongside another force is uncommon, and not just due to the lone nature of the Chapter, but also because those they fight alongside often find out that some of their munitions seem to be missing. Other times, Chapters may find that weaponry and even vehicles have mysterious vanished from the battlefield before they can be recovered. Although it can never be proven, the fact that the Jackal Claws were on the same battlefield must surely be no coincidence. Their nature as scavengers and even looters has earned the Jackal Claws another title: "The Carrion Dogs" and commanders and Chapter Masters alike would do well to guard their stores from them. This reputation has not bothered the Jackal Claws who have other ways to acquire resources and munitions. Many beleaguered outposts and fleets have found themselves saved by hooded Astartes who request supplies or specific items as a "gift of thanks" for rescuing them. Other occassions the Astartes just leave as soon as they arrive but with the rescued party finding their stores have gotten mysteriously lighter in stock. Rogue Traders and merchants also find themselves doing business with these Jackal Claws whose skill in business and trading makes them quite efficient in the acquisition of goods. Furthermore, their ability to smell out a scam has spelt the end of many would be con artists. This is what one Trading Dynasty learned at their peril.

Tiberiun Graccus of the Graccus Trading Dynasty believed he had scored a big gain when he tricked a group of Astartes into buying a shipment of faulty weaponry for an exorbitant sum of thrones. One month later he woke up to find he and his entire family tied to chairs in a dark room. Around them were the bodies of their entire household of slaves, their throats cut and each clutching one of the faulty weapons. What was more frightening were the three hooded Astartes standing on the other side of the room. The Astartes didn't even need to utter a word before the family pleased for their lives, returning the thrones to them as well as throwing in an entire rack of the finest weaponry in their stocks. Satisfied, the Astartes leave and the Graccus Dynasty never attempt to swindle another soul ever again for fear of the Jackals coming back.

Familial Bonds
"Don't talk to me about respect, Raven. Were my ancestors shown respect when the Primarch cast them into the stars to be forgotten? Were we shown respect when he called all forces back to Deliverance when the Legion was broken on Istvaan? All forces except for my ancestors? No, he forgot us and for that we plucked our feathers and became Jackals. So, Raven, that is why I will not hear of respect from you. Not until Corax himself comes back and begs our forgiveness!"

- Quote from the Jackal Claws Chapter Master known only as the King of Scraps

While many Chapters have often strained relationships with a successor Chapter, the relationship between the Jackal Claws and their progenitors, the Raven Guard, are to the point of hostile. The Raven Guard have no knowledge of the Jackal Claws' founding and thus doubt there is a connection between them. What's more, the Jackals hold no love towards Corvus Corax, the Primarch, and go as far as to denounce him. However, the reason for this hatred goes even deeper, for Corax was the one who banished the Jackals' ancestors in the Great Crusade and sent them into the stars to never rejoin their Legion. It is for this reason that the Jackal Claws refuse to have any contact or ties to the Raven Guard or their successors. Even their name is an attempt to rid themselves of any heritage to the Raven Guard. While their progenitors are birds, they, themselves, are Jackals. Of course, this resentment would never go beyond arguments and bitterness. Jackal Claws who have served in the Deathwatch wouldn't refuse to fight alongside a Raven Guard or their successors, but there would be tension nonetheless. While no other Chapter has the resentment the Jackal Claws have of the Raven Guard and successors, the Jackal Claws do not name anyone to be their friends. They are their own pack who have no need of friendship and brotherhood. That is how it has been since their days of exile and it shall be that way evermore.

New Blood
The 42nd Millennium's arrival was heralded by the Galaxy splitting in two by the birth of the Great Rift. Despite being located in what became Imperium Nihilus, the Jackal Claws escaped much of the ensuing chaos and were largely unscathed when by the time the Indomitus Crusade came to them. To their surprise, Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines, was leading this crusade and, with him, was a new breed of Astartes - the Primaris Marines. This next stage evolution of transhuman warriors were improved forms of the Astartes, with new strengths and advanced wargear. Before he moved on, the Primarch gifted the Jackal Claws with Primaris marines as well as the means to make more. After some initial misgivings and suspicion the Jackals accepted these new marines and welcomed them into the Chapter. At first, the new arrivals took time to adjust to the Jackal Claws' ways. The Primaris took heavy losses while they learned the tactics of the Jackals and there was a wave of shock and outrage they had to get over when they found that the Jackal Claws carelessly looted the dead and wreckage of the battlefields. Eventually, however, as the first Primaris either died or assimilated into the Claws and new Primaris were made from the Chapter's recruitment grounds, these problems faded away. The Jackal Claws were particularly fond of the Inceptors and Vanguard marines and made great use of them in their campaigns. As such, it can be said that the Jackal Claws had no problem with accepting the new Primaris marines.

The Unknown Future
For most Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, to go unremembered and lost is a fate worse than death itself and thus throw themselves into battle in the hopes of achieving such glory that their names are spoken of for eternity. The Jackal Claws, however, scoff at this notion and have no interest in fleeting glory and being remembered. Those who wish to go out in a blaze of glory may do so for it will make the mopping up of the enemy all the more easier for the opportunistic Jackals. They silently laugh at those who deride the Jackals' tendencies to hide in the shadows with their sniper rifles until the moment comes for, in the end, all they care for is getting the task done and getting loot. That has how it has been since the Raven Lord sent their ancestors into the stars and that is how it will be until the last light burns out. For the Jackals shall stalk silently through the night and their enemies shall regret ever finding their throats caught in their jaws.

Notable Campaigns

 * Discovery of the Jackals (Unknown Date) - The Jackal Claws are discovered by an Imperial Explorator fleet and added to the roster of active Chapters.
 * Unscrupulous Allies (Unknown Date.M33) - After going unnoticed in Imperial Records for centuries, the Jackal Claws reemerge when they lend aid to the Ultramarines in defense of an armoury world against an Ork Wraagh. When the horde is wiped out, the Jackal Claws depart without a word. They are long gone by the time the Ultramarines realise that entire armouries have been stripped of munitions and wargear.
 * A Pack of Hunters (Unknown Date.M33) - When a rebellion breaks across the entire planet of Pharrel, a single Jackal Claws squad answers the Governor's plea for help. Without a word to the authorities, the Astartes delve into the hives of the planet and hunt down the leaders of the rebellion in a single week. They leave without ceremony but not before demanding several pieces of technology as "payment".
 * One Shot, One Kill (Unknown Date.M35) - A Chaos Warband's rampage on Retai-IV is brought a crashing halt when it's chaos lord is slain by a single shot from a Jackal Claw sniper. It is alleged that this sniper was the Astartes known as Corias Xun.
 * Aquiran Campaign (Unknown Date.M36) - The Jackal Claws arrive unannounced to the Aquiran System to aid in the Space Wolves and the Cadian 78th in a campaign against an Aeldari warhost. The Jackals quickly earn the enmity of the Space Wolves when the Cackle Alpha apparently steals the Wolf Lord's kill when he shoots the Aeldari Autarch through the head rather than engage in a duel. The Wolves are further outraged when they discover the Jackals leave with wargear looted from the battlefield. Suffice to say, the Space Wolves refuse to fight alongside the Jackal Claws.
 * The Hunt (Unknown Date.M40) - Hunter becomes hunter when a Drukhari Kabal invades the world of Takashimaya only to be ambushed by the Jackal Claws. The raid turns into a massacre as the Jackal Claws box the Kabal in and wipe every single Drukhari out.
 * Loud and Clear (863.M40) - The corrupt Trade Lord Dirkius thinks himself set for life when he sells a line of fake boltguns to a Chapter of space marines. Two days later, clerks of his company are surprised, and relieved, to find the dead bodies of his thugs hanging from the walls of their office block while, hanging from his own balcony, though very much alive, the terrified Trade Lord cries out to send everything in his private vault to a figure known only as the "Lord of Scraps". The vault's contents are packed onto an unmarked vessel and sent to a dwarf planet at the edge of the system where a group of Astartes collect it. The leading Astartes, the Lord of Scraps, tells the couriers to inform the lord that his debt is repaid and he would be wise not to give cause for the Jackals to return. He also hands over the detonator that would've seen the Trade Lord and his palace lost in an explosion. The Lord of Scraps is most amused when he learns that the Trade Lord was overthrown not long after the courier's return.
 * An Ancient Discovery (Unknown Date.M41) - The Jackal Claws investigate the Devilskin Space Hulk. Inside they find a lost ship from the Great Crusade belonging to the Raven Guard. The lost ship is returned to the Raven Guard, though it's hangars and armouries are mysteriously empty.
 * New Brothers (Unknown Date.M42) - When the Great Rift opens, the Jackals focus on protecting their home world and recruiting worlds. They are fortunate in escaping much of the major damage the Great Rift causes and suffer few losses. Their biggest surprise is the arrival of Roboute Guilliman and the Primaris Marines. Despite initial misgivings, this new wave of Astartes is accepted into the Chapter.
 * The Lasmosa Raid (Unknown Date.M42) - The Primaris Marines prove themselves in battle when the Jackal Claws attack the Iron Warrior held planet of Lasmosa. Making use of Inceptor and Suppressor jump assaults, the Iron Warrior fortifications are breached which allow the rest of the Chapter to deploy. Trapping the Iron Warriors in their own forts with Infiltrator and Aggressor deployment, the heretics are cut down by snipers and Eliminators.

Chapter Organisation
The Jackal Claws seem to majorly deviate from the Codex Astartes, possibly due to their roots as a pirate band. The Chapter places a heavy emphasis on infantry and stealth tactics, only using vehicles such as rhinos and dreadnoughts for all out attacks. The command structure also appears to be highly decentralised. Cackles and packs rarely fight together or rely on each other in battle, being self sufficient organisations of their own. In fact it is for common for merely one or two Jackal Claw Astartes to be sent to a planet should the matter be deemed insufficient for a Pack or Cackle to deal with. As such, each Jackal Claw is self-reliant and able to operate alone in the field for a long time.

The Jackal Claws have their own title system. Squads are referred to as Packs and Companies referred to as Cackles. An individual Battle Brother is named a Pack Claw and the sergeant is named Pack Alpha while the Captain is Cackle Alpha. As for the Chapter Master, none can say, for it seems that every new Chapter Master bears a different title. The titles; "King of Jackals", "Lord of Scraps", "Scavenger-Lord" and the "Unchained King" have all been recorded. The current Chapter Master, Kheyzen Zir, appears to bear the title of "Carrion King". There also appears to be no Cackle Alpha for the 1st Cackle, meaning Jackals' chapter master is surely in command of it.

Terminators are a rare sight in the Jackal Claws, only a few squads of the 1st Crackle wear them and are only deployed in the culmination of an attack to be used as shock assault. This is the case for most of the Jackal Claws' vehicles. It should be noted that the Jackal Claws' armoury is full of armour and vehicles dating back to the Great Crusade.

Librarius
There is little knowledge on the Jackal Claw Librarians. The few sightings of them show the librarians to be utilising their powers to shroud their brothers or cause disruption within the enemy. Many librarians seem to adorn themselves in totems and runes drawn from the bones of Jackals of the Chapter's home planet, for what purpose is unknown.

The Moritat
Moritats were specialized Space Marine warriors during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. The individual assigned to this duty were often cold-blooded murderers who fought with a suicidal fervor. They were normally given missions from which they would not be expected to return. The Moritat had their origin in Raven Guard Ash Blind (also known as Sable Blind on Deliverance). These black-eyed warriors were veterans who were known to forsake all pretense of self-preservation, fighting with a terrifying determination before succumbing to their foes. The survivors of these suicidal incidents were sometimes recovered and in future battles would often descend into the same suicidal fervor that befell them before. The Raven Guard under Corax would organize these warriors into units of assassins and shock troops and they proved highly effective.

It would seem the Jackal Claws have kept this ancient formation in the form of jump pack equipped Astartes who are sent as the vanguard to a final assault. In their suicidal fervor, the Moritat are effective in breaking the way in. The Moritat are separate from the Jackal Claw's command structure and are commanded by Hulvan Mengsk who answers to the Cackle Alpha he has been attached to.

Combat Doctrine
The Jackal Claws place a high emphasis on stealth tactics and usually attack entirely from range. They do not care about honour, having no time for duels or "honourable" tactics, and have no qualms with using tactics other Chapters wouldn't dare use. The Jackal Claws do not care if they knife their foes in the back or shoot them from afar, as long as they complete their objective then they are satisfied. They are also known for using allied Imperial Guard regiments as bait or meatshields to draw fire away from them. This, in addition to the fact that the Jackal Claws will often scavenge the bodies and wrecks of a battlefield, has earned them the distrust of the Guard and other Chapters.

The Jackal Claws will deploy onto a planet's surface as stealthily as possible, making use of Shadowhawks, Thunderhawks modified to be undetectable, or whisper-cutters, open topped crafts capable of transporting a pack in total silence. Once deployed the Jackals will use scouts, bikes and land speeders in order to recon the battlefield and locate the enemy. The Jackals will then engage the enemy in guerrilla warfare; catching them in ambushes and kill zones, never engaging them in open warfare until the enemy is significantly weakened. The Jackal Claws are perfectly content with allowing their allies to do most of the fighting, only joining in when the enemy has been weakened. From observations, it has been concluded that command structure has little weight over the Jackal Claws. In fact even squad organisation may be ignored. Individual squads or Pack Brothers have been seen acting on their own accord rather than to the commands of their officers or allies who are in charge of the operation. This is a sign of their individualistic tendencies.

The Jackal Claws are also alleged to be scavengers. Battlefields, shipwrecks, lost Fortress Monasteries and even the armories and supplies of allies are targets for the Jackals. Suits of armour, weaponry, fuel, vehicles and parts of ships have been taken. It is unknown why the Jackal Claws do this, for they do not seem to have a bad reputation with the Adeptus Mechanicus, but the fact that they operate in the outer reaches of Imperial Space and away from easily accessible supply words may be a reason. Another reason may be the that the Jackal Claws' ancestors, the Ashen Claws, engaged in piratical activity. Either way, allies make sure to guard their assets when the Jackal Claws are around.

Since the introduction of the Primaris Marines, the Jackal Claws have made significant use of the Vanguard Space Marines. The Vanguards' specialisation in infiltration, sabotage, assassination and ambushes has found them a particular appreciation from the Jackal Claws and, as such, many Primaris serve as Vanguard longer than most Chapters.

Chapter Beliefs and Traditions
Like almost everything else with them, the beliefs and traditions of the Jackal Claws is shrouded in mystery and conjecture. It would seem the Jackal Claws hold no belief in the Imperial Creed as there have been little sightings of Chaplains or roles similar to one. Alternatively, the use of pelts and runes made from the teeth and claws of the jackals of their homeworld suggests a tribal approach to the Imperial Creed. The Jackal Claws hold honour and glory in little regard. Honour duels and acts of heroism are frowned upon and even ridiculed. The Jackal Claws instead respect stealth and perfect marksmen kills. This is seen when, in one battle, an Aeldari Autarch challenged a Cackle Alpha to a duel, the Alpha's response was to simply shoot the Autarch through the head.

Despite being Raven Guard successors, the Jackal Claws have absolutely no respect for their progenitors or primarch. It is noted that, whenever they are in the same warzone, the Jackal Claws will keep as far away from the Raven Guard or other successor chapters as possible. It would seem this dislike is returned by the Raven Guard and their successors. This hatred is probably due to the fact that the Jackal Claws are descendants of the Ashen Claws, exiles from the 19th Legion.

The Jackal Claws also hold little concern for civilians or their chapter serfs. Chapter serfs are usually beneath the Astartes' notice, treating them as invisibles who maintain the fortress monastery and cook their meals. Civilians are also beneath the Astartes, not caring for them as long as they are out of their way. Any civilian in their way is just seen as collateral. Naturally, this pragmatic view doesn't sit well with Chapters who care for the lives of mortals. But, of course, the Jackal Claws care not for what others think of them.

Chapter Gene-Seed
Like the Raven Guard, the Battle-Brothers of this Chapter possess a minor mutation that causes the Melanochromic Organ (which controls the amount of melanin in an Astartes' skin tone) to not function properly, leading to the development of albinism in Jackal Claws Astartes. Differing Melanochrome gene-seed from Chapter to Chapter leads to variations in skin and hair colour, and in some Chapters all of the Space Marines may have identical colouration, such as is found in the albino warriors of the Jackal Claws Chapter. Another flaw is that a Jackal Claws Astartes eyes may become completely black. Over time the Jackal Claws have lost the use of two of the special organs produced by the basic Astartes genetic template: the Betcher's Gland, which allows a Space Marine to produce poisonous/acidic spittle, and the Mucranoid, which causes a Space Marine's body to secrete a waxy protein substance similar to mucus through his pores that seals his skin. Space Marines are cocooned in this way before they enter suspended animation, and the process can even protect them from the harshness of the vacuum and other extremes of temperature, particularly deeply frigid environments.

Primarch's Curse: Lure of the Shadows
Like many Chapters, the Jackal Claws also suffer from certain genetic deficiencies. The Raven Guard's demeanour heavily reflects their combat doctrine. Generally reserved, Jackal Claws Astartes stay in the shadows until the right time to speak. When they do pitch in they tend to be very recalcitrant and terse, often condemning the more direct tactics of their fellow Chapters. As they become unstable, they begin to mimic the sullen nature of their Primarch before his mysterious disappearance. When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:


 * Stage 1 - The Battle-Brother is used to working in his small Raven Guard strike team, and finds the direct tactics used by other Chapters to be brutish and ineffective. When commanded into a direct attack that he finds foolhardy, the Battle-Brother is resistant, almost to the level of disobedience.
 * Stage 2 - Becoming increasingly intractable, the Battle-Brother is quiet and brooding. In mission briefings he stays in the shadows, only speaking when absolutely necessary. For example, the fellow members of a Deathwatch Kill-Team would feel uneasy around the moody Battle-Brother, tending to avoid him when possible.
 * Stage 3 - The Battle-Brother despises the tactics of his fellow Battle-Brothers, knowing that his more intelligent approach is the best way to victory.

Chapter Recruitment
The Jackal Claws recruit from their homeworld of Korziqa, a feral world covered in savannas and bush lands. Recruits are selected from not only the strongest of aspirants, but from those with cunning and wit. The most common trial consists of stealing a certain item from a jackal lair, a trial more difficult than it sounds, and bringing it to a Jackal Claw without him noticing. Those who succeed go on to become Neophytes, while those who fail usually end up eaten by the jackals.

Chapter Homeworld
The Jackal Claws reside on Korziqa, a feral world covered in savannas and bush lands. The people live in shanty villages that are often located in ruined cities and towns from a more advanced time before the Age of Strife. Conflict is rife between these villages as it is common for them to fight over recovered pieces of technology and the art of theft seems to be encouraged among the villages. It is believed the Jackal Claws may deliberately be keeping the people down in a regressed state in order to have a strong recruitment stock.

Korziqa is home to an array of wildlife, most of them hostile to humans. The most famous of them are the jackals, large canine beasts that live in packs and attack when their prey is at it's weakest. It is from them that the Jackal Claws derive their name and culture.

The Jackal Claws' fortress monastery is located in a mountain range far from the people of Korziqa. They keep themselves isolated until it is time to gather aspirants.

Chapter Fleet
There is no solid information on the Jackal Claws' fleet because it has rarely been seen together in one place. It is believed that they have one battle barge and around six strike cruisers. Due to their history as Ashen Claws, the fleet is full of ancient ships that hail back to when the Raven Guard were still a Legion.

Notable Members

 * Kheyzen Zir - Known to his Chapter as the "Carrion King", Zir is a ruthless and cunning leader. It is believed he acquired his nickname through his strategy consisting of wearing the enemy down by sniper fire and guerrilla tactics and then wiping them out in a full assault. he is usually found leading the assault, laughing as he mercilessly cuts down enemies with his relic axe known as the "Final Moment". He is also rather reclusive, only dealing with his Chapter and allowing representatives of his to deal with visiting officials or allies. When in battle, Zir wields his relic axe and a storm bolter.
 * Yurik Hex - Yurik Hex is Alpha of the 2nd Cackle. Since his ascension, he has cemented his position as Alpha by being an incredibly ruthless warrior which is evidenced by the scars lacing his face. As senior adviser to the "Carrion King", Yurik Hex is often regarded as one of the most dangerous Space Marines alive today. He is also known for his tendency to look down upon mortals and even those above him. As far as Hex sees it, it's his way or his way.
 * Corias Xun - Not much is known about Xun save that he was apparently one of the greatest marksmen in the Jackal Claws. In battle, he was a consummate predator, having mastered the art of striking from the shadows without warning, killing his foes from afar without hesitation or remorse, before fading back into the darkness once more. Outside some Vindicare Temple of the Officio Assassinorum, Xun's skill-at-arms were honed to the finest killing edge. His fieldcraft and panoply of arms and wargear was second-to-none, and his innate ability to insert himself into the perfect position to deliver a decisive killing blow from afar, at the pivotal moment of a campaign, became legendary. It is said that no one within the Chapter has beaten his record of kills to this day.
 * Hulvan Mengsk - Those who assume the Jackal Claws to be mere snipers usually end up dead when the full force of the Chapter is deployed. In the culmination of a Jackal Claws operation, assault squads, dreadnoughts and terminators will rain down from nowhere and destroy whatever opposition is left. Often at the forefront of these assaults is Hulvan Mengsk, the "Walking Dead". Mengsk is the leader of the Moritat and one of a long line of Astartes to wear the armour of the "Last Days" and wield the Claws of the End, and is regarded as the Chapter's finest swordsmen. Well, finest as in he kills with speed, precision and without honour. He cares not for honour or duels, his foes either die in one blow or are killed in the next few. Mengsk is not above fighting dirty to slay his foe before he moves on to the next, his last foe already a fleeting memory.
 * Normakus Yuiu - Normakus Yui is the Pack Alpha of "Yengsk" Pack. It is said he and his pack single-handedly brought down a Chaos cult uprising.

Deathwatch Service
Although rarely, the Jackal Claws do send marines to take part in the Long Vigil. A Jackal Claw most often serve as a Kill-Team's long ranged specialist or stealth operative. These skills usually make up for the marine's tendency to disobey orders and argumentative personality. Jackal Claws will also only fight alongside a Raven Guard marine or a Raven Guard successor out of sheer reluctance, they won't bother trying to repair relationships.

Chapter Relics

 * Final Moment - The "Final Moment" is a relic power axe that has been supposedly with the Jackal Claws since their days as the Ashen Claws. The axe is capable of tearing through almost any material with ease and is wielded by Kheyzen Zir, the "Carrion King".
 * The Jackal's Howl - The Jackal's Howl is a sniper rifle wielded only by the most skilled of marksmen. The rifle is said to howl whenever it fires and rarely misses.
 * Claws of the End - The Claws of the End are two master crafted power swords alleged to able to cut their way through almost any armour. However, the bearer of these two blades is supposedly cursed to never stop wanting to kill hence why only the commander of the Moritat is permitted to wield them.

Chapter Appearance
The Jackal Claws wear darkened colours in order to better conceal themselves. Camo-cloaks and dark robes are also a common sight amongst the Chapter. It is rare for a Jackal Claws marine to go into battle without satchels of ammo and supplies so that he may operate without support for long periods of time. Many Jackal Claws also bear necklaces and runes made from the teeth and claws of their homeworld's native jackals while others wear the pelts. Camouflage is also used often. Kill markers and other markings are often scratched into their armour as well. Jackal Claws are also extremely pale and have black hair and eyes, a mutation of their Raven Guard gene-seed.

Chapter Colours
The Jackal Claws wear a dark brown colour for their armour and paint their pauldrons black. However it is common for these colours to be replaced by camouflage. There appears to be no colour change to signify ranks meaning that the Jackal Claws identify their ranks some other way.

Chapter Badge
The Jackal Claws' Chapter badge is that of a stylised ebon coloured jackal's head centered upon a deep green circlet, centered upon a field of sable.

Chapter Relations
Due to their infamy as scavengers and tendency to act alone, the Jackal Claws have few friends. Those they have the most dealings with are rogue traders and merchants. The Jackals will trade for supplies and other items and it is confirmed that several rogue traders and merchants have the favour of the Jackals. However any scheming merchant or trader will meet a swift end should they try and trick the Jackal Claws, for the Jackals are experienced in trade and now how to sniff out a scam.

Many Imperial Guard regiments decline to work with the Jackal Claws due to their tendency to use their allies as meatshields. The one Regimentum that gets along with the Jackal Claws are the Catachan Jungle Fighters who operates in a way similar to the Jackal Claws. The Claws are especially impressed by the Jungle Fighters' attitude thus banter is common between the two forces.

The Jackal Claws despise the Raven Guard and their successors, due to being Ashen Claw descendants, and will refuse to fight alongside them. This hatred is mutual and the Raven Guard and successors even refuse to acknowledge them as kin, which suits the Jackals just fine.

Inquisitor Duran Heika
Inquisitor Heika cares little for reputation or history, except for when it is important, when he recruits allies and is more concerned for their skills. It is why he will enlist the services of the infamous Jackal Claws for their superb marksmen skills and subtle methods. However the individualistic minded Jackal Claws often require convincing and thus Heika looks the other way should a Jackal Claw and a long lost relic of another Chapter be in the same location.

Notable Quotes
-Feel free to add your own-

By the Chapter
"This is Harza to Chapter Command, when you sent me on this recon mission I recall the details being to investigate a minor disturbance. Well allow me to enlighten you that this minor disturbance is, in fact, an Ork WAAAGH!. The PDF is almost overrun and it looks like this could threaten the whole system. Reinforcements would be appreciated."

- Transmission from Harza to Jackal Claws command reporting on his investigation

"You bastards dare to appear now?! After spending that entire battle hiding in the shadows?! Your cowardliness cost us valuable battle brothers and now you loot the battlefield! Have you a shred of honour?!"

- Anonymous Ultramarines captain to a Jackal Claw

"No."

- The Jackal Claws Marine's reply

"Yes, I understand that there is nothing more glorious than open battle and slicing someone’s head off with a sword but I don’t care. If you want to charge in and challenge that giant warboss then go ahead. I, meanwhile, shall sit back here and shoot it’s head off so we can get out of here."

- Sevax to a newly arrived Primaris marine

"We are not a murder of crows. We're a pack of jackals. We have no need of our weak kin."

- Kheyzen Zir, the "Carrion King".

About the Chapter
"If the Primarch could see these wayward sons he would surely weep in disappointment."

- Kayvaan Shrike

"What do you mean the Land Raider is missing?!"

- Unnamed Imperial Fists Astartes who had been told their land raider had gone missing. Coincidentally the Jackal Claws seemed to have acquired a new land raider at the exact same time.

"The fact that they see themselves as jackals instead of birds should tell you all you need to know about our cousins."

- Unknown Raven Guard Battle Brother.