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This article, Imperial Phantoms, is currently under active construction. The author, Phoenix Arcanum, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Imperial Phantoms are a Successor Chapter of the enigmatic Raven Guard, arising during the 13th "Dark" Founding. The Chapter is known for the brooding and melancholic disposition of its Battle-Brothers. Like their predecessors, the Imperial Phantoms seem naturally drawn to the shadows, with a penchant for stealth, reconnaissance, and guerilla warfare. Paradoxically, however, the Imperial Phantoms also make extensive use of orbital drop tactics and rapid assault. This strange combination of conflicting tactics blend together to devastating effect.
The Imperial Phantoms operate from their fortress-monastery of Stormhold on the oceanic Death World of Arkham within the Mictlan Sector. The Chapter often operates in the isolated regions of the Imperium or in the heart of enemy territory, maintaining order and executing the Emperor's will amongst the lawless stars.
Chapter History[]
The Imperial Phantoms Chapter was formed during the 13th “Dark” Founding using the gene-seed of Corvus Corax. The Chapter was initially founded to help keep watch over the edge of the Imperium, guarding against the horrors that lurked beyond the Emperor's demesne.
The chosen homeworld of the Imperial Phantoms is the oceanic Death World of Arkham. Arkham is located within the Mictlan Sector, which is itself located in the edge of Imperial Space within Segmentum Pacificus.
While it is known with absolute certainty that the Imperial Phantoms hail from the genetic lineage from Corvus Corax, it is known with much less certainty which specific Chapter they hail from. It is said that the Raptors Chapter spawned a number of its own Successor Chapters prior to the Age of Apostasy, though the identities of these Chapters have since been lost. There have been more than one Imperial historians that have speculated that the Imperial Phantoms are one of the “Lost Successors” of the Raptors.
In the early history of the Imperial Phantoms, the Chapter considered itself the “spiritual successor” of the Raven Guard Legion's 13th Chapter, which was often known by the cognomen “Ghosts of Deliverance.” When the 13th Chapter was mostly wiped out during the Dropsite Massacre, most survivors joined the Shattered Legion Warband (including former Chapter Master Teyod Qrowen). However, a scant few became senior officers of the unit that would one day become the Raptors Chapter. This latter fact seemingly lends credence to the theory that the Imperial Phantoms are Lost Successors of the Raptors.
Notable Campaigns[]
Vengeance on Varkhona: The Imperial Phantoms fight to suppress a Chaos uprising on the Hive World of Varkhona. In the end, it is discovered that the uprising was instigated by elements of the Alpha Legion and Night Lords. The Imperial Phantoms Strike Force hunts down the Heretic Astartes within the Underhive and executes them all.
Judgement of Abram Secundus: The Imperial Phantoms are deployed to suppress a rebellion led by Traitors wearing the defaced arms and armor of the Adeptus Arbites. The Astartes act in support of an Arbites Judgement Fleet.
War of Chequers: The Imperial Phantoms are among Imperial forces that battle against Eldar Harlequins. The Imperial Phantoms incurr significant losses, including Shadow Captain Robyn of the 1st Company
Hoeg Obliviation (M41): The Imperial Phantoms are dispatched to uproot an colony of alien Psyvores from the planets of the Hoeg System. Although they significantly thinned the number of Psyvores, the Imperial Phantoms failed to eliminate them all. Inquisitor Drovas of the Ordo Xenos eventually declared Exterminatus upon all three inhabited planets within the system. The Imperial Phantoms Strike Cruiser Anathemiser only managed to wiped out one planet before its entire crew (including 2nd Captain Gilderoy) fell victim to a Psyvore Presbyarch and its conclave. Following the loss of the Anathemiser, the Imperial Phantoms withdrew from the campaign while Inquisitor Drovas enforced a system-wide quarantine. Even now in the 42nd Millennium, the Hoeg System remains off-limits as an eternal forbidden zone. The Hoeg Obliviation is a great stain on the history of the Imperial Phantoms and is one the Chapter's greatest failures.
Chapter Home World[]
The Chapter homeworld of the Imperial Phantoms is the Death World of Arkham, located within the Mictlan Sector of Segmentum Pacificus. Arkham is a storm-wracked world of turbulent, planet-wide oceans. The planet’s native humans dwell on the few rocky islands and archipelagos. Aside from environmental hazards, the oceans of Arkham are populated by all manners of monstrous aquatic lifeforms.
Because Arkham lacks any kind edible flora on its islands, the locals are forced to brave the seas in order to obtain their food. Just as the humans take to the seas to obtain food, many of the larger oceanic predators take to the islands to feast upon the humans. As a result of this, the entire population of Arkham is made up of expert fighters. The harsh nature of Arkham breeds exemplary recruits for the Imperial Phantoms
Fortress-Monastery[]
Stormhold serves as the fortress-monastery of the Imperial Phantoms Chapter. It is constructed within an extensive natural cavern network within and below a towering mountain the reaches from the churning ocean, high into the stormclouds above.
Chapter Organisation[]
Officer Ranks[]
Specialist Ranks[]
Line Ranks[]
Specialist Formations[]
Order of Battle[]
Headquarters[]
Companies[]
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Company | 2nd Company | 3rd Company | 4th Company | 5th Company |
| Shadow Captain Blake, Master of Vengeance 2 Lieutenants 100 Veteran Marines |
Shadow Captain Carolus, Master of Secrets 2 Lieutenants 60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
Shadow Captain Edward, Master of the Ambush 2 Lieutenants 60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
Shadow Captain Byron, Master of the Fleet 2 Lieutenants 60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
Shadow Captain Emeric, Master of Marches 2 Lieutenants 60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
| Reserve Companies | "Scout" Company | |||
| 6th Company | 7th Company | 8th Company | 9th Company | 10th Company |
| Shadow Captain Dorian, Master of Rites 2 Lieutenants 100 Battleline Marines |
Shadow Captain Bernard, Master of Lies 2 Lieutenants 100 Battleline Marines |
Shadow Captain Damian, Lord Executioner 2 Lieutenants 100 Close Support Marines |
Shadow Captain Baldwin, Master of Relics 2 Lieutenants 100 Fire Support Marines |
Shadow Captain Martin, Master of Recruits and Reconnaissance 2 Lieutenants 100 Vanguard Marines Neophytes |
Chapter Beliefs[]
Chapter Gene-Seed[]
Primarch's Curse - Lure of the Shadows[]
The Imperial Phantoms’ demeanour heavily reflects their combat doctrine. Generally reserved, Raven Guards 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:
Level 1: The Battle-Brother is used to working in his small Imperial Phantoms 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.
Level 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.
Level 3: The Battle-Brother despises the tactics of his fellow Battle-Brothers, knowing that his more intelligent approach is the best way to victory.
Primarch's Curse - Grim Determination[]
Level 1 - The Shadow of Death: The Battle-Brother starts to see death in everything. He becomes distant and makes little effort to forge alliances with new squad members, knowing they will soon be in the grave. He becomes more dismissive of death and the praising of the dead, seeing little glory in their sacrifice, only the inevitable end to their duty and another corpse to feed the gods of war. This attitude can grate on those around the Battle-Brother and he suffers with his fellowship when dealing with other soldiers or members of the Adeptus Astartes.
Level 2 - The Bad Beneath the Good: The Battle-Brother cannot help but reflect on the worst side of a new development and will endeavour to find the worst aspect of even the most favourable of circumstances. Quite apart from causing friction within his squad, the drawing of focus onto potential problems and unforeseen dangers (regardless of the actual likelihood they will impact on the squad's mission) can cause compromises in command and less than direct tactical judgements.
Level 3 - Game Over: Death is inevitable and the Battle-Brother is already a walking corpse just waiting for the moment when an enemy's blade or bullet ends him. Filled with visions of his own demise, the Battle-Brother begins to act recklessly, accepting that it is his time and there is nothing he can do to prevent it coming. This will not only place him in danger but can endanger his entire squad. The Battle-Brother does not contribute to the squad's cohesion as he fails to adequately aid them in battle. In addition, he tends not to gain the benefit of hiding behind cover, as even when behind barricades and walls he exposes himself to fire with little mind to remaining concealed.
Combat Doctrine[]
The Imperial Phantoms are among the very few Space Marine Chapters to specialise in stealth tactics. The Phantoms have indeed mastered the art of a stealthy approach followed by an overwhelming assault. To best facilitate their stealth-based combat doctrine, the Chapter utilizes subtle modifications to armour and weaponry, shielding them from detection until the very last moment. Silenced weapons, null-shielded insertions and dampered armour are all utilised so that the enemy has no idea of the Chapter's presence, until the killing blow is delivered.
When this final killing blow does come, it is often in the form of a lightning strike. Such attacks conducted by the Imperial Phantoms are assaults carried out with such overwhelming force, from such an unexpected quarter, that no defence is possible and the enemy is smashed aside and utterly defeated. As a result, the Imperial Phantoms maintain a highly mobile force, eschewing heavy firepower for manoeuvrability. Strike Forces of the Imperial Phantoms often feature large numbers of Rhino-borne Squads, and many of these vehicles have been modified to afford additional speed or range. Mechanized infantry is further supplemented by large numbers of bike-mounted warriors. As previously stated, a lightning strike is often precluded by a stealthily inserted scout mission, the Neophytes led by grizzled scout sergeants who themselves are the veterans of a hundred missions. Enemy positions are thoroughly reconnoitred, their status communicated by ultra-secure cipher wave to the main force hidden nearby.
Aside from the two previously mentioned tactics, the Imperial Phantoms are also experts at orbital drop pod assaults. The Imperial Phantoms have honed orbital drops to the point of perfection so that the first and last thing an enemy sees of the Space Marines’ attack are the black contrails of dozens of drop pods streaking through the air, and Battle-Brothers disembarking inside his lines to gun him down with ruthless efficiency. These orbital strikes often occur in the midst of a lightning strike, bringing unexpected reinforcement right into the heart of the enemy.
Deatwatch Service[]
Notable Members[]
Gilderoy - Former Captain of the 2nd Company who served for not but one Terran standard year. He was a key figure during the Hoeg Obliviation, leading the fight against the alien Psyvores. Towards the end of this conflict, Captain Gilderoy fell victim to a Psyvore Presbyarch alongside the entire crew of the Strike Cruiser Anathemiser. The loss of Captain Gilderoy is a source of great shame for the Chapter.
Weyan - First Chapter Master of the Imperial Phantoms Chapter. Prior to this, Weyan served as the 3rd Captain in either the Raven Guard or Raptors Chapter.
Chapter Fleet[]
Chapter Relics[]
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colours[]
The Imperial Phantoms are identified by their dark, storm grey armor. The aquila on their chest is gold. Individual Battle-Brothers are allowed to customize their armor to a limited degree. The customized paraphernalia is often similar to the customized paraphernalia of Battle-Brothers of the Raven Guard. Avian skulls, feathers, and iconography are quite common.
Company, Squad, and Specialist Markings[]
Each Battle-Brother has a white, Codex-approved Specialist markings emblazoned on their right pauldron which indicates their battlefield role. Uniquely, the Imperial Phantoms’ fire support marking is a stylized explosive blast.
Within the Imperial Phantoms, a Battle-Brother's squad is indicated by a white Gothic numeral stenciled on their left poleyn. Company is marked by the trim color of a Battle-Brothers right pauldron. The color of the trim follows the guidelines of the Codex Astartes; white for 1st Company, yellow for 2nd Company, red for 3rd Company, etc.
Within the Imperial Phantoms, Sergeants are identified by a white helm with an icon on the forehead. Veterans are identified by white pauldrons and arms. Veteran Sergeants combine the heraldry of Sergeants and Veterans, sporting white helms, arms, and pauldrons. Lieutenants bear a white-and-white stripe along with an icon upon their helm. Their arms are white while their pauldrons are storm grey
Shadow Captains and the Shadow Master bear remarkably similar heraldy to Veteran Sergeants. They all wear white helms and white arms. Some chose to wear white pauldrons while others chose to wear standard storm grey pauldrons.
Chapter Badge[]
The Imperial Phantoms' Chapter badge is that of two crossed scythes.
Relations[]
Allies[]
Enemies[]
Notable Quotes[]
By the Imperial Phantoms[]
About the Imperial Phantoms[]
