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- "We are the Sons of Russ, we are the incarnation of the Great Kraken, and we shall set sail across the stars and bring ruin to all who would threaten mankind. So my brothers as the First Lord Reaver, my first command to you is this. Let the Great Reaving Begin!"
- — Harwyn Bloodyhand, upon his election to Jarl Reaver of the Kraken Reavers at the Vikanmoot
The Kraken Reavers, known as the 'Víkankrak' in their tongue, are an Ultima Founding Successor Chapter created from the lineage of the savage Space Wolves. This brutal Chapter is comprised entirely of Primaris Space Marines, the next stage of evolution of the Space Marines. Their inception took place in the wake of Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade in 999.M41. The Kraken Reavers were created as a void shock-assault force, to patrol around the Eye of Terror and the Great Rift to keep in check the Traitor Legions who use it to launch raids across the imperium. As well as any other enemies of mankind who sail within imperial space.
Following their creation, the Kraken Reavers quickly garnered a reputation as relentless and merciless raiders and reavers of the enemies of Mankind who attempt to despoil or dare assail the Emperor's realm. Since their inception, the Kraken Reavers have been a Chapter apart from their fellows, their ways and beliefs strange. Their belief in being the incarnations of the being they call the 'Father of all Void Krakens', the 'Hafgufa', has confused and unsettled many, especially with the superstition that surrounds Void Krakens. Their methods have drawn some to claim they are too similar to the very raiders they are sworn to slay. The Kraken Reavers for their part have been content to prosecute the Imperium's wars on their own, caring not for the opinions of others. Though brutally violent, bloody and unsubtle, their campaigns are savagely effective and non can deny their skill in boarding actions and void combat is second to none.
Like the monstrous beast they claim to be the incarnations of, the Void Kraken, the fleet-based Kraken Reavers have built up a reputation as masters of void warfare and for destroying ships. They continuously patrol around the Eye of Terror, ever searching for their next target to appear be they Chaos, pirate or xenos raiders, it matters little. Like the titanic void krakens, they sail the dark depths of the void, striking their foes suddenly and brutally tearing them apart leaving nothing but a torn apart carcase, a message for all to see. Fear the sons of Russ and the Kraken wherever the void of space can be seen.
Chapter History
Ultima Founding
As the 41st Millennium drew to a close and the Forces of Chaos grew stronger, a miracle occurred - Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines was revived from his ten-millennia long, near-death slumber in stasis. With his resurrection came the arrival of the newly created Primaris Space Marines, a new breed of transhuman warriors, superior to the original Adeptus Astartes in every way. Gathering the full might of the Imperium's military forces, Guilliman - now the newly-dubbed Lord Commander of the Imperium - launched his Indomitus Crusade outwards into the galaxy, to reclaim those worlds lost to the Ruinous Powers and restore the Imperium to it's former glory.
With the revelation of the newly created Primaris Space Marines, Guilliman ordered that a new Founding would take place - the Ultima Founding. The Primarch ordered that not only new Chapters would be created comprised entirely of these new transhuman warriors, but also current Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes would be reinforced with the new Primaris. This was the Birth of the Kraken Reavers. Like all their fellow Primaris Chapters, they were created from one of the genetic lines of the nine original Loyalist First Founding Space Marine Legions. This newly incepted Successor Chapter was descended from the gene-seed of the savage Primarch Leman Russ - the Wolf King - along with several other newly formed Space Wolves Successors.
Indomitus Crusade
A Kraken Reavers Raider (Battle-Brother) charging into battle.
To counter the Forces of Chaos and help the Imperium, Guilliman, alongside the Emperor's personal guardians, the Adeptus Custodes, the long-forgotten Sisters of Silence and Primaris Space Marines started the great campaign which would come to be known as the Indomitus Crusade. During this crusade the Kraken Reavers would cement their reputation as Reavers and void fighters with few equals as they would carve a bloody trail throughout the void of space.
Under the chapter's designated chapter master, Argil Iron-eye, the Kraken Reavers would be deployed as a fleet-based chapter, tasked with patrolling around the Eye of Terror and aiding the Imperial Navy in destroying the fleets and ships of the enemies of man. The Reavers revelled in their task, over a scant Terran decade the Chapter would engage in dozens of fleet-on-fleet engagements in conjunction with the Navis Imperialis, no fewer than 25 xenos, pirate and traitor space fortresses and hideouts around the Eye of Terror were destroyed, and no less than 61 enemy vessels of Cruiser class and higher were destroyed at the hands of the Reavers. When offered the right to claim a homeworld, Argil and the Reavers refused, not wishing to be tied to a world and wishing to be allowed to sail the void without being held back by having to guard a planet, thus they drew recruits from suitable planets they found on their travels and the sons of the very pirates they slew, as long as they weren't chaos pirates.
However, tragedy would strike the Krakens when their assigned Chapter Master, Argil Iron-eye was slain during a boarding action against the flagship of the Ork Freebooter Kaptin 'Eadkrusha. Worse still 'Eadkrusha managed to escape leaving a stain of honour on the Chapter that had to be avenged, the chapter thus upon learning of the death of Argil made to regroup in the Yul System to choose their new leader and plan their revenge against 'Eadkrusha.
The Great Reaving
When the chapter had arrived in full in the Yul System, the captains of the ships and their chosen champions as well as all those of officer rank came aboard the Chapter's flagship and fortress-monestary, Kraken's Roar. The assembled warriors paid tribute to their fallen leader and oversaw the carving of his name upon the great wall of sagas. When all this had been done, Ivarok the Boneclaimer, High Void Priest of the Chapter declared that the new leader would be chosen by the Vikanmoot, the Reavers Assembly, and called on those who would stand for leader to step forth and let themselves be heard and known to all, and make their case. The first was Othgar Ironlegs of the Toothed Maw, he told the assembly of his deeds and glory, his claims echoed by his chosen men, and he swore to lead them to great battles and ever greater glory. The second to step forward was Stromgil Fanghide, captain of the Voids Fang, he told of his hunts of the beasts that stalked the void, how he had hunted many Drukhari raiders, he swore to lead them on ever greater hunts and to make the enemies of man fear them. Each of these men for their speech earned a respectable number of support.
Then Harwyn Bloodyhand, Captain of the Axe of Hafgufa spoke, he named his deed, his slaying of an Ork Warboss, his hunt of a mighty Void Kraken, his slaying of a Chaos Champion of Khorne with his bare hands, all this and more, all proudly seconded by his chosen men. He then swore to the Kraken Reavers that he would lead them not only to greater hunts, to greater glory, to greater raids, but he also swore to them he would lead them the greatest Reaving the Galaxy had ever known and that their names would be known and respected and feared across the stars. With his speech over the assembled Reavers almost unanimously started to chant Harwyn Bloodyhands name, until Ivarok with one shout silenced them all and proclaimed the Vikanmoot had spoken, Harwyn Bloodyhand would be the new Chapter master of the Kraken Reavers, he would be Lord Reaver, the Jarl Vikan. Harwyn declared that the first to suffer at the hands of the Great Reaving would be none other than Kaptin 'Eadkrusha, and with that he ordered all ships to set sail and follow his lead to the Freebooterz stronghold, Rusty-Rok.
Rusty-Rok was a massive Rok, filled to bursting with Ork Freebooterz and surrounded by dozens of Ork vessels, it was from here that Kaptin 'Eadkrusha and his Boyz launched their numerous raids, growing richer in loot and scrap with each raid and growing in numbers in equal measure. twice had the Imperium dispatched a fleet to see to the Orks destruction and twice had the Freebooterz destroyed those sent against them, only growing stronger from the attacks. So when the entire fleet of the Kraken Reavers jumped into realspace the Freebooterz gleefully saw this as another chance to get even more loot, 'Eadkrusha watched from his throne as his ships made full speed for the Kraken Reavers with the total belief his boys, having beaten all who'd attacked them here had failed and having just slain their Chapter Master, would easily crush the Astartes. When the Reavers made contact with the oncoming Orks however, 'Eadkrusha's belief in his Boyz was to be shattered. The Kraken Reavers skilfully and brutally engaged the Ork Vessels, managing to outmanoeuvre and destroy them with ease, whilst those that the Reavers decided to board were soon overwhelmed with the Savagery and skill of the Kraken Reavers.
Soon the Kraken Reavers fleet had all but destroyed the Freebooterz fleet, and they made for the Rok itself. 'Eadkrusha, to his credit upon realising what was happening had called back as many of his ships and Kaptins as would listen to help reinforce the already formidable defences of the Rok Fortress, as soon as the Krakens Fleet was in range they came under a maddening amount of fire from all manner of guns and weapons, despite the fact that hardly any hit, the closer the fleet got the more landed. Realising this and wanting to get his axe into the prey Harwyn ordered all ships to make full speed and close the distance to the Rok as fast as possible and launch all Reaving companies as soon as they came into range. The fleet pushed at full speed to close the gap and as soon as any ship came in range its captain and tied company launched their boarding craft to make contact. Soon Harwyn and his contingent made it into range and launched and soon the entire chapter was inside the Rok. The Freebooterz realising they had been boarded lessened their firing as the vast majority of the Greenskins made for the nearest contingent of Astartes they could find, eager for the chance to get into a fight with the Astartes. The fighting was brutal as each landing party fought through wave upon wave of Greenskins as they tried to group up into their companies, the Reavers giving no quarter and cutting down innumerable Orks whilst the Green tide seemed endless.
Eventually all the companies assembled and awaited their Lord Reavers command, he simply told them to Reave the Rok and that he was heading for the Kaptin. With this the Kraken Reavers eagerly charged out across the Rok, bringing the fight to the Orks and turning the tide against them, greenskins were slain by the thousands as the Kraken Reavers revelled in the fighting and carnage of the close-quarters engagements that were occurring all over the Rok. The Orks for their part were more than happy to meet the Krakens and themselves revelled in the fighting, but despite this the Orks came more and more to the realisation they were losing, at this moment Kaptin 'Eadkrusha decided to lead his own band of hardened nobz and Flash Gitz down into the fight until Harwyn Bloodyhand broke his way into the Kaptins throneroom, there a bloody and brutal battle ensued between the elite of both forces, no quarter or mercy was given and when Harwyn clashed with 'Eadkrusha the two leaders fought each other tooth and nail, the fate of the battle resting on the victor of the duel. Both were skilled fighters, 'Eadkrusha was larger and stronger but Harwyn was faster and smarter, both landing brutal blows to the other until with a well placed strike of his axe Harwyn managed to embed the blade into the Freebooter Kaptins skull, before bringing him to the ground and pulling it out to cut off the Orks head. He lifted it up and yelled in victory followed by his fellow Reavers who made short work of the remaining orks. With the death of their Kaptin the Freebooterz resistance crumbled and the Kraken Reavers soon cleansed the Rok of all Greenskins, before setting melta charges off to detonate the rok, denying the orks the chance to ever reclaim it. But not before the Reavers had collected what they felt was a sufficient amount of trophies.
After their honour had been sufficiently, and bloodily, restored, the Kraken Reavers took to the void once again with a zeal and revelry that was inspiring and terrifying in equal measure. They plied the void of space around the Eye with the eagerness of a Great Void beast surrounded by ships to consume at its leisure, dozens of space holdouts, hideaways and fortresses were attacked and destroyed, anything of use or value taken, save those of chaos nature which were destroyed with brutal prejudice. The Reavers descended upon the ships of their enemies with a fury and eagerness that drew more than a few, hushed, whispers of how the Kraken Reavers seemed to act more like the very Freebooterz, Pirates and Raiders there were tasked with destroying, despite this non could deny its effectiveness. Every boarding action was seen as another chance for glory, trophies and a chance to destroy the enemies of man and the Emperor, the Reavers also partook in ever more Hunts of the dreaded void beasts that stalk the void of space in their, relative, free time, hunting the Likes of Asteroid Krakens, Void Serpents, Voidtooths and even two rare and deadly mutated Void Krakens. The Kraken Reavers however did not shy from planetary engagements, on many worlds the Reavers of the Great Kraken proved they weren't just deadly in the hulls of ships, cutting down their enemies in brutal close-quarters fighting and lighting fast strikes, though their true skill always lay in the sky above. As the Great Reaving continued the Kraken Reavers only honed their skills in ship-to-ship combat further, and their skill in boarding actions and void warfare growing more deadly and potent, to the point their boasts of being amongst the best void-faring warriors in the galaxy actually had some merit to them.
This however took its toll on the Kraken Reavers. With every engagement their losses mounted, and with no homeworld to call home they lacked a constant and reliable supply of recruits, and whilst the practice they had followed since Argil's time had worked time and the stresses of their campaigning had shown its flaws clearly, the inconsistency of successful implantation and the need to completely indoctrinate their recruits in all aspects of their culture drained the Krakens time and resources and made replenishment a challenge. The Kraken Reavers also found themselves isolated from their fellow Astartes, their form of warfare and the nature of their campaign made contact with other Astartes chapters a rare occurrence and often only briefly for a campaign or naval engagement, thus the Krakens formed few ties with fellow Astartes chapters, the closest ties they formed were with the Imperial Navy and even then only certain fleets and captains that had earned the respect of the Reavers. Despite the great tally of victories, the glory and sags being made, the trophies being piled high and the enemies of man around the Eye of Terror being savaged by these Reavers the chapter found itself looking at an unsustainable future that could potentially lead to their extinction.
The Kraken and the Wolf
This relative isolation of the Kraken Reavers was however not to last. When the Kraken's Roar exited the warp in a system of space known only as Zeta-401A on a routine hunt and patrol Harwyn Bloodyhand had no idea that what he would find would change the course and fate of the Reavers forevermore. As the battle barge made its way through the system her auspex picked up the signal of multiple ships, seeing this Harwyn made the necessary orders to prepare for whatever they might encounter. With the ship ready Harwyn had Kraken's Roar make her way towards the source of the signal what he found was a single Space Marine strike cruiser, its colour and markings unknown to him but what he was more focused on were the other ships. Ork Kill Kroozers, 4 of them and some escorts all showing the clear markings of Freebooters, they had surrounded the Cruiser and were firing from all sides and launching boarding craft at her. Seeing this and realising that the strike cruiser wouldn't hold out much longer Harwyn ordered the Kraken's Roar to make full speed towards the cruiser and to call to it and let them know that salvation had arrived.
The Orks, too focused on the cruiser, didn't notice the battle barge making for them until she was right on top of them. Firing a broadside into one of the cruisers and crippling it and allowing the Strike cruiser to escape the trap and Harwyn and his Astartes soon dispatched the Ork vessels. As the Kraken's Roar inspected her bloody work the cruiser sent a communique, the commander of the ship identified himself as Engaldr, of the Dusk Howlers Chapter and of the Draugoloth's Great Company, he conveyed his thanks for the assistance and that he and his brothers owed the Kraken's Roar a debt of honour. Harwyn responded by introducing his ship and his Astartes and asked what the cruiser had been doing alone.
Before the Howlers could reply the Kraken's Roar auspex detected some ships fleeing the area, realising that some of the escorts had survived and were making for an asteroid cluster the veteran Reaver realised the Orks were heading back to their hideout, Harwyn gave orders to follow the Orks back to their hideout. He offered the cruiser the chance to follow and join in the attack if they so wished, to which Engaldr accepted and the cruiser followed the battle barge. The Kraken Reavers initial opinion of these Dusk Howlers was not entirely favourable, the fact they had been ambushed by Ork Freebooterz so thoroughly, although this was tempered from their experience with the Orks, that they were far more cunning than given credit for. As the ships followed the escorts into the cluster they soon saw the Freebooter hideout, Harwyn gave the order to attack and get within boarding range, relaying his command to the Dusk Howlers so they may fight shoulder to shoulder in the melee.
The Kraken Reavers and Dusk Howlers during a joint-xenocidal purgation operation to cleanse Freebooterz aboard an Ork vessel.
The Howlers followed the Reavers and as soon as both ships were in range they boarded the hideout, the boarding parties of both chapters were ordered to gather around Harwyns party, and as they cut their way through the orks both chapters revelled in the melee that ensued, once the entire boarding contingent was assembled Harwyn gave orders to attack and seek out the high-value targets, the Howlers were seconded to each of these groups. The Krakens as ever fought like bloody Reavers in their element, cutting down Orks in droves and masterfully navigating the confines of the Hideout, taking trophies as they saw fit and boasting constantly to one another especially the younger Reavers, the Howlers by contrast fought like wolves confined, brutally hunting down the Orks and dispatching them with the ruthless and savage skill of a Hunter.
Soon Harwyn and Engaldr's contingents made it to the Freebooter Kaptin's command room, a bloody fight ensued with Engaldr slaying no less than 6 Nobz as Harwyn decapitated the Ork leader, soon the battle was over and the hideout cleared. As was the norm all items deemed valuable or good trophies were taken before the hideout was destroyed to deny the enemy, the Reavers had once again comported themselves well, but the Howlers had also fought well and Harwyn and the Kraken Reavers found their previous misgivings of the Dusk Howlers forgotten, replaced with respect at their nature and skill. Harwyn invited the Dusk Howlers to join the Kraken Reavers aboard Kraken's Roar for their ceremonial Reavers feast, where the survivors of an attack gather to feast and present their trophies taken from their enemies, boast of their deeds and honour their fallen. The Dusk Howlers accepted and joined the Kraken Reavers.
The Dusk Howlers mixed well with the ceremony, boasting as well as any of the Reavers and managing to consume just as much Mead, for his deeds as well as his rank, Engaldr was granted a seat of honour next to Harwyn Bloodyhand and they soon talked at length, during this Engaldr told of how his cruiser was to regroup with his chapter's leader, Draugoloth Einar Nighthowler, and he revealed that the Dusk Howlers were scions of Leman Russ, like the Kraken Reavers and that they had formed an unofficial collective called the Sons of Russ alongside four other chapters, the Crimson Prowlers, Wild Wolves, Bloodied Hunters and the Dawn's Wolves. Hearing all this and wishing to meet this Einar Nighthowler, Harwyn asked to join Engaldr to which the Dusk Howler, himself impressed with the Kraken Reavers skill agreed, Harwyn then declared to the gathered Astartes they were heading to meet the Dusk Howlers leader and that he would see what he was made of and if they could Reave together and whether or not this Sons of Russ was worth joining.
The Kraken's Roar thus made for the location of Einar Nighthowler, Harwyn sending orders to any ships not engaged and near enough in range of the location to join him. As the two ships made their way they picked up 3 more Strike Cruisers and their escorts belonging to the Kraken Reavers. Soon the fleet found itself in the Katand System, where the first great company of the Dusk Howlers were mustering, at the centre of this assembly stood the Hróðvitnir, a Gloriana-class Battleship and flagship of the Dusk Howlers. Sufficiently impressed with the fleet assembled before him Harwyn made for the battleship and soon he was aboard the mighty ship, where he came face to face with Einar Nighthowler. The two warriors measured each other up at first, not a word was spoken until suddenly Harwyn Bloodyhand asked boldly how many trophies and ships would it take for Einar Nighthowler to give him the Hróðvitnir. At first the Draugoloth said nothing, and some within the chamber anticipated the two would come to blows, but to the surprise of all assembled the Draugoloth laughed and asked how much he had, to which the Jarl Vikan listed off all his trophies and ships before Einar stopped him and said he wouldn't trade it but he liked Harwyn's attitude. The two warriors seemed to almost immediately form a bond as they both listed off their deeds and skills, each boasting and both respecting and seeking to out-boast the previous boast.
Eventually Harwyn, sufficiently impressed with Einar and liking the sound of his skills offered the Draugoloth and his company the opportunity to join the Kraken Reavers on an attack they had planned for a space fortress belonging to a ruthless Chaos Warband called The Prideful Blades. The Prideful Blades were a collection of Slaanesh-aligned warbands that had come together under the leadership of Luscak the Indulgent to raid and pillage the Imperium having finally escaped the Eye of Terror, these piratical Astartes had already slaughtered uncountable thousands of innocents and had destroyed more than their fair share of imperial ships. Einar Nighthowler accepted and bid the Kraken Reavers lead him and his company to these traitors so they may hunt down and slaughter them, the assembled fleet soon made for the fortress, with the Kraken Reavers leading the way joined by an Imperial Navy fleet that had close ties to the Kraken Reavers.
When they arrived they found the Prideful Blades assembled in full, for their leader was about to undergo ascension to a daemon Prince of Slaanesh, realising despite their impressive naval assets that engaging the assembled fleet beyond the range of their fortresses defences was folly, Luscak gave orders for the fleet to remain near the Fortress. Unfortunately, the pride of a number of the commanders got the better of them as two-thirds of the Prideful Blades fleet made straight for the Imperium fleet. The combined fleet following the Reavers lead and command managed to skilfully engage and destroy the Slaaneshi fleet with minimal losses and soon they made straight for the Fortress, Harwyn wishing to get to the boarding ordered the Imperial Navy to engage the remaining fleet with some strike cruisers seconded to them to counter any attempts by the traitors to board them and to act as a reserve to board if needed, Einar agreed also wishing to get into the melee as soon as possible.
Harwyn and Einar issued their orders and targets to their boarding parties, whilst their elite bodyguards would join together and make for Luscak. As soon as they were in range the Kraken Reavers and Dusk Howlers launched their boarding teams, breaking into the fortress the teams cut through Slaaneshi Pirates and Astartes to regroup before heading for their chosen objectives. Soon Harwyn and Einars contingents met and made for the command chamber, the elites of both Chapters cutting down their enemies mercilessly. The Reavers fought as master marauders, hitting the enemy hard and fast and engaging in brutal naval close-quarters combat cutting down those who face them, whilst the Dusk Howlers fought like master hunters, savaging and stalking their prey and striking with a single deathly blow that cut off throat of the enemy before easily butchering the body in its death throes. Soon Harwyn and Einar found themselves in the command chamber, Luscak halfway through his metamorphosis, realising they had to slay him before his apotheosis was complete the two forces clashed in a brutal and bloody struggle, the elite of both forces gave no quarter and fought with skill and savagery unmatched.
A bloody stalemate ensued that both Harwyn and Einar knew they could not win once Luscak ascended, thus the two warriors made straight for the fledgling Daemon Prince, cutting a bloody path to reach him and soon the three champions were engaged in a brutal duel, the outcome of which would decide the battle. Whilst the two chapter masters fought with skill and savagery, Luscak fought with the fury and skill of a birthing demigod, his blows powerful and strong holding his own against the two Astartes and only growing stronger with every minute, soon the 2 Astartes realised they had to do something soon or they would lose, Luscak then bellowed in laughter and contempt stating how pathetic these apparent scions of Leman Russ were, and how he would be ashamed to call them his sons.
This insult combined with the unholy things mere utterance of the name of their gene-father stoked in all the Scions of Russ assembled a fury and rage that gave them new strength and a greater desire than ever to slay these heretics, the Reavers and Howlers redoubled their attacks and Harwyn and Einar attacked with a renewed fury. The Daemon Prince and his bodyguard were taken aback and found themselves on the back foot, when Einar savaged the Daemon Prince's right leg, bringing him to his knees, Harwyn made for a killer blow but was knocked aside. Luscak made for the Dusk Howler with fury and soon brought him to the ground, declaring he would slay the wolf in the name of Slaanesh, but before his blade could come down Harwyn Bloodyhand came from the side and with one powerful blow embedded his axe into the left side of the Daemon Princes neck and brought the screaming champion to the ground as Einar retrieved his weapon and with the two Astartes with one simultaneous blow cut through the both sides of Luscaks neck, decapitating him before his ascension was complete, denying him the immortality he had so craved.
After the death of their leader the Prideful Blades' resistance crumbled, and the fortress was scoured of all life, as the fleet wiped the last remnants of the warband's navy. Only those who had been slaves to the warband were spared and freed, the rest put to the blade and bolter, the fallen dead were collected and charges were set on the reactor causing the fortress to be obliterated like most attacks on chaos forces the Reavers took only a few, non corrupting trophies. The price the Dusk Howlers and Kraken Reavers had paid had not been cheap, but in exchange they had slain well over 700 traitor Astartes and a would-be Daemon Prince, ending a potentially major threat to the Imperium before it had been allowed to grow. Once again the Kraken Reavers invited the Dusk Howlers onto their Flagship for a Reavers Feast, which the Dusk Howlers accepted, the two chapters revelled together and boasted of their deeds and honoured their fallen. Einar was granted the seat of honour and he and Harwyn spent a long time speaking, drinking and boasting, the two chapters through battle and bloodshed had forged a deep bond of brotherhood and the Kraken Reavers and the Dusk Howlers had both earned the respect and kinship of the other, the closest bond the Kraken Reavers had ever formed with any Astartes.
Einar Nighthowler then suddenly rose from his seat and bellowed all be silent so he may speak, and the assembled Astartes fell silent and the Draugoloth spoke, he declared that the Kraken Reavers had earned the respect and admiration of the Dusk Howlers, now and forevermore, and that the Reavers had done the name of Russ proud, and that the Sons of Russ would be honoured to have the Kraken Reavers amongst them. A cheer was raised and soon the assembly began to cheer before Harwyn arose and bayed them be silent, he then thanked Einar for his words and told of how the Krakens had believed life alone was their way and that they had been destined to always be so, but the Dusk Howlers had proven that in fact kinship and brotherhood was the better way forward and so the Kraken Reavers would gladly accept the honour of joining the Sons of Russ.
Notable Campaigns
Chapter Homeworld
Chapter Organization
Like all true inheritors of Russ, the Kraken Reavers eschew the tenants of the Codex Astartes, preferring to maintain their own unique unit and organisation as well as a number of specialist ranks and formations not found in other Space Marine Chapters. Since their joining of the Sons of Russ these formations and specialists have mirrored their disposition and by osmosis their parent chapter the Space Wolves. Although this organisation was already present before the Reavers joined the Sons of Russ and only minor tweaks were made. However, uniquely amongst the other scions of Russ the Kraken Reavers did not originally break themselves into 12 great companies, instead, they divide themselves into ship crews rather than any company. With every Captain leading his own number of men who would follow him and that his ship would carry, thus every captain of a strike cruiser could lead up to a company worth of Astartes, thus technically making them Codex-compliant almost. Ever since the Kraken Reavers joined the Sons of Russ the Kraken Reavers have now created 12 Reaving Fleets.
Officer Ranks
- Jarl Vikan - Kraken Reavers word that means Lord Reaver, the Jarl Vikan is the Kraken Reavers equivalent of a Chapter Master. The Jarl Vikan is chosen during the Vikanmoot by the chapters officers upon the death of his forebear, and he will remain the Lord Reaver until his own death.
- Fleet Captain - A Fleet Captain ('Skeppare') is the Kraken Reavers officer who is the equivalent of a standard Space Marine Captain and who commands one of the 12 Reaving Fleets that comprise the full force of the Kraken Reavers. A Fleet Captain is chosen amongst the fleet in a similar manner to the Lord Reaver, and is always protected by a contingent of Marauder Guard specifically loyal to him.
- Raidmaster - A Raidmaster ('Hersir') is the Kraken Reavers equivalent to a standard Primaris Marine Lieutenant. They often act as the right hand of the Fleet Captains by providing flexibility and helping to direct their fleets and battle-brothers in engagements. They will often lead part of a Reaving Fleet when it is divided in order to spread their forces across multiple combat zones.
- Captain - A Captain ('styrimaðr') is a Kraken Reaver who commands a ship.
Specialist Ranks
- Krakensmen - Collectively, the various Chapter specialists of the Kraken Reavers are known as the Krakensmen. There are number of specialists within the Chapter, including:
- Void Priests - Void Priests, are a unique officer class within the Chapter. A combination of the roles of Chaplain and Apothecary found other Chapters, the Void Priests administer to the physical and mental well-being of the Chapter's warriors and also choose the Aspirants for the Chapter from among the recruits of the chapter as well as decide the new Lord Reaver in the Vikanmoot.
- Kraken Seers - Similar to all space wolf successors the Kraken Reavers do not possess Librarians as such because of their great abhorrence of psychic abilities, which they equate with foul sorcery; instead the Chapter maintains a number of warrior-mystics known as Kraken Seers. Like the Space Wolves' Rune Priests, these potent psykers consider themselves a breed apart from the Librarians of other Chapters. They manipulate their powers through little-understood rituals and star readings, drawing from the power of the void and the Great Kraken Hafgufa. They provide the Chapter with prognostication and shield it from Empyreal threats. They are also responsible for the important task of examining the minds of all Aspirants of the Chapter for any sign of Chaotic taint or treachery. Armed and equipped differently from Librarians, Kraken Seers wear ancient runic artificer armour gifted to them by their genetic forebears and allied chapters. When they call upon their unique abilities, they are aided by a unique lattice of psycho-memetic pattern field technology incorporated into the armour which helps safeguard their person against outside forces as well as preventing them from drawing too much power from the Warp.
- Iron Priests - The Iron Priests are the Chapter's equivalent of Techmarines. Sent off for training at Mars with the Adeptus Mechanicus like all Techmarines, they possess an iron mask of vast technological lore behind their outwardly barbaric show of tech-mysticism and superstition, though this is not as prominent as other space wolf chapters. Their role is not simply to supply their Chapter with arms and maintain their wargear, but to ensure it is as self-sufficient as possible. They also have a key role in the chapter as they have to ensure that the vast fleet remains self-sufficient and able to repair and resupply itself as much as possible. Unlike the Space wolves and most successors, the Iron Priests of the Kraken Reavers attached to each reaving fleet the King Wolf's Company and -assigned to other fighting forces on a situational basis. Iron Priests also have a place in transforming and initiating new recruits.
- Ancient Krakens - The Dreadnoughts of the Kraken Reavers are generally ancient and wise warriors, who spend a great deal of time in dreamless sleep within the ships of the Chapter. These were the first Terran and Fenrisian Aspirants of initial candidates who were inducted into the Primaris Project and eventually became the first Primaris Space Marines. Many of them can still recall when Russ still walked amongst men and of his powerful presence when they first boarded the transports that ferried them to the flesh labs beneath the surface of Mars. These venerable brothers are only awakened from their deep slumber in times of great need. The Ancient Krakens, possess a particular war-like mien, as most of these warriors had suffered terrible wounds before being placed within the sarcophagus of a Dreadnought. The pain of their mortal wounding often drives them to bouts of killing mania when left conscious. They are rarely awoken from their slumber unless the Chapter requires the utter annihilation of the enemy, for these war engines of destruction are never subtle weapons.
- Hafgufa's Chosen - Equivalent to a Chapter Champion. This individual is hand-picked by the Lord Reaver himself; chosen for their skill-at-arms, personal valour and skill in reaving, rather than rank. Only those who commit the greatest acts of extreme personal valour and collects the finest trophies are even considered. Their loyalty and extreme devotion to the protection of the Lord Reaver is their primary duty, even when matching blades with the deadliest of foes in the heat of battle. This chosen warrior is further trained in the arts of duelling by the Chapter's various champions of each Reaving Fleet until their very body is a weapon and their every instincts are honed to a razor's edge.
- Kraken Champion -Equivalent to a Company Champion. The Kraken champion is a consummate warrior and is a Reaving Fleets finest warrior, charged with engaging warlords and champions of an enemy in single combat. Their primary function is to act is their Fleet Captains personal bodyguard and lay down their life if necessary. It is the role of a Kraken Champion to engage the deadliest foes, to leave their Fleet Captain free to conduct the wider battle, rather than engaging in a series of personal combats. These superlative duellists and Reavers are ready to challenge any enemy leader to single combat in his commander's stead at any given moment. In exchange for this they receive some of the finest and most glorious trophies, making the position a highly coveted one.
- Trophy Bearer - Standard Bearer equivalent, the standards are only carried in battles on planetary surfaces.
Line Ranks
- Raid Leader - A Raid Leader is the Kraken Reavers' equivalent to a standard Space Marine Sergeant, who leads a 'Reaving Crew' (Squad).
- Raider - Battle-Brother equivalent.
- Krakeling - Translated as 'little kraken'; Neophyte equivalent.
- Unbluda - Translated as 'unblooded'; Aspirant equivalent.
Reaving Crews
Similar to their genetic forebears, the Kraken Reavers form their warriors into something akin to their Packs, although they are called Reaving Crews. Each Crew will generally be made up of Astartes who have fought together for some time and will work together as a group of Vicious reavers in battle. The Crews will work together to measure up their foes, attacking their victims mercilessly, until they chase them down and slaughter them in a hail of blood and gore and then take what trophies they see as valuable. The Kraken Reavers have four primary types of Crews in the Chapter, including; the Void Claws, Blooded Marauders, Scarred Reavers and Reaver Guard, but they also maintain a few select crews made up of unique specialists and veteran elite as well:
- Reaver Guard - Some Kraken Reavers, having achieved feats of exceptional valour and martial prowess, may become members of the Chapter's Reaver Guard. To be a Reaver Guard is to be regarded as among the finest Reavers that the Kraken Reavers have to offer. These superlative Primaris serve as bodyguards for the commanders of the Reavers, having earned the right to wear better armours and weapons that the Chapter possesses, including Terminator battle armour, making them walking tanks within the confines of ships. These mighty Astartes can lead smaller forces of Kraken Reavers drawn from other Crews, serve as the Kraken Reavers equivalent of an Honour Guard for the most experienced warrior in a deployed Kraken Reavers force or serve as the Raid leader for a Reaving Fleets squads, imparting their knowledge and experience to their younger charges and serving as the equivalent of standard Space Marine Sergeants. Unlike other Chapters, though similar to the Space Wolves and their successors, entrance into the elite ranks of the Reaver Guard is not the result of seniority or Veteran status but is an honour earned directly through merit, through the display of extraordinary acts of courage and heroism under fire. Eventually, it is possible for a Reaver Guard to rise to the position of Captain of his own ship, and thus becoming eligible to be elected as Fleet Captain of one of the 12 Reaving Fleets. Because this position is so rewarding it is a source of envy by the warriors of the Chapter, there are always those who are eager for glory and a chance to be forever remembered within the Chapter's sagas. This can lead to some friendly rivalry between competing warriors, eager to draw a Fleet Captain's attention to their martial prowess in the heat of battle.
- Kraken Guard - Each Fleet Captain maintains a cadre of elite Reaver Guard, comprising the very finest of the warriors under his command. Harwyn Bloodyhand is no exception, and maintains perhaps the largest Reaver Guard of all the Fleet Captains, counting among its number many of the greatest warriors in the entire Chapter. Bloodyhands Kraken Guard is so large that it is split into several smaller Crews, many of which have earned great renown for their deeds, yet when they gather for war at the Lord Reavers side they are collectively known as the Kraken Guard. These Champions of Hafgufa, the "Bloody Reavers of Bloodyhand," are always at the Lord Reavers call, accompanying him into every battle and commanding his armies when the needs of war called him away. Bloodyhands Kraken Guard defend him with their lives and slay without mercy those who would raise blades against the master of the Kraken Reavers. They are the shield and sword of the Lord Reaver, fending off enemy attacks before landing the killing blow. To face the Kraken Guard of the Void in battle is to face death itself.
- Scarred Reavers - Within the Kraken Reavers Chapter the Scarred Reavers form a cadre of elite veteran warriors. Wisened and hoary with age, these proud and stoic warriors possess a myriad of scars from their numerous battles and thus are called 'Scarred Reavers'. After centuries of long wars, their esteem stands as a mountain, commanding awe and respect from those of lesser years. There are relatively few Scarred Reavers within the Chapter, for many warriors die in battle due to their violent lives and taking part in the ceaseless conflict. Only a small minority manage to survive to reach a venerable age. Their saga is almost complete. These veteran warriors are the oldest living members of the Chapter outside those sorely wounded kindred who are entombed in the chassis of a Dreadnought. They are some of the most ancient members of the Chapter, often being a part of one of the earliest inductions into the Chapter sometime after the Great Scouring millennia earlier. They are renowned for their disciplined and steady demeanour even in the heat of battle, and hence are entrusted with the Chapters heavy weapons. They are the equivalent of a Primaris Chapter's Aggressors, Eradicators and Hellblaster Squads. Some of these venerable warriors are arrayed in modified suits of Mark X Gravis pattern power armour refitted to carry shoulder-mounted missile launchers, they are tasked with heavy fire support when needed especially on planetary engagements. In battle they are also armed with Flame Gauntlets that allows them to unleash blazing streams of promethium, mowing down any foes foolish enough to get in close-proximity of these deadly warriors. Often the Scarred Veterans will deploy in boarding actions as a support unit, sent to help break through an enemy barrier or dug-in position.
- Blooded Marauders - If Void Claws survive long enough to mature into seasoned Astartes, they are promoted to the ranks of the Blooded Marauders. These veteran Astartes are the equivalent of a Chapter's Tactical Marines. The Blooded Marauders crews form the greater mass of the Kraken Reavers battle brothers. They are strong and resolute fighters, tempered by battle but as hungry for glory and plunder as any proud reaver of the chapter. They are experienced warriors, dour and sombre, proud of their skills and the trophies they have collected, and rightly respected by their younger brethren. In battle, they function as all but autonomous units in combat and are largely exempt from the reliance on direct commands from their senior command. They are expected to deal with myriad challenges on their own if need be, capable of handling the many hazards and dangers that come from void combat, and above all to close with the enemy on their own terms; to seek and destroy.
- Void Claws - A Void Claw is a newly inducted Astartes of the Kraken Reavers Chapter and is the equivalent of a Chapter's Neophytes or Scout Marines. Still struggling to control the savage spirit that afflicts all the scions of Russ from within, Void Claws are notoriously savage and fiercely aggressive. These hot-headed young warriors cannot wait to prove themselves, charging in roaring crews at the front lines of the enemy and through the corridors of vessels in their efforts to garner personal glory and claim as many trophies as possible. They prefer to fight at close quarters and are armed with melee weapons such as chainswords and bolt pistols. The Void Claws are the main shock troops of the Kraken Reavers and spearhead the majority of assaults and boarding actions. If they survive to become mature and capable warriors, they will eventually be elevated to the veteran ranks of the Blooded Marauders.
- Void Reavers - Inceptors
- Voidtooths - Reivers and Incursors
Order of Battle
Reaving Fleets
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| 2nd Reaving Fleet | 3rd Reaving Fleet |
4th Reaving Fleet | 5th Reaving Fleet |
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| 6th Reaving Fleet |
7th Reaving Fleet | 8th Reaving Fleet | 9th Reaving Fleet |
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| 10th Reaving Fleet | 11th Reaving Fleet | 12th Reaving Fleet |
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Chapter Recruitment
When the Kraken Reavers were made into a chapter they refused the right to claim a homeworld for themselves, seeing it as against their nature and mission to be tied down to a single location. Thus the Reavers instead chose to claim recruits from worlds they came across that they found suitable, primarily feral and death worlds. When arriving to these worlds the Reavers would take as many recruits as they saw fit and would have them taken with them on their ships and train them in the void. These recruits would be inducted and taught the language and culture and beliefs of the Reavers, and trained on the Chapter's flagship and fortress-monastery, the Battle Barge, Kraken's Roar.
Uniquely the Aspirants are also tested in battle against foes, when Kraken's Roar engages an enemy ship the recruits are sent to the boarding action as well to fight by the Astartes and serfs. This however is only against certain enemies such as pirates, lost and the damned and some xenos species. Anything like Heretic Astartes, Aeldari and Orks are left to the Astartes. Whilst many chapters would be shocked at such a practice, seeing it as an unnecessary risk to the lives of their precious recruits, the Reavers would counter by saying that any recruit that can be killed by the likes of a simple pirate clearly had no place in the chapter in the first place. Additionally, they see it as an excellent way of training and teaching their recruits the realities and tactics of void warfare and boarding actions.
Another source of recruits was the sons of those they slew in boarding actions. With the region around the Eye of Terror in chaos and the Imperium's focus set firmly on containing the forces of Chaos, piracy, an ever-present problem within the Imperium, had become rampant, with countless pirate holdouts and fleets and ships popping up all over the area. Some of these were devotees of chaos whilst others were mere renegades. These pirates are amongst one of the main 'prey' of the Reavers as they would say, Chaos pirates in particular are slaughtered to a man with no mercy, but for those who haven't fallen to chaos, the Reavers will normally take their offspring and the slaves they had, if they did, and recruit them for their ships. Amongst these pirate sons, the strongest and best are taken aside and tested to see if they will make good recruits, the Reavers seeing in them the mindset and culture already similar to their own and thus just needing molding.
This practice worked for a time, but as time went by and losses began to mount the Krakens realised that collecting from just any world they saw fit and the sons of pirates wasn't sustainable, the inconsistency of success rates and the need to thoroughly induct them into their culture and ways were a strain on time and resources that could be better spent reaving the enemies of man. They needed to find worlds that produced suitable candidates and whose culture was similar to their own. Whilst this could have been solved by claiming a homeworld and moulding it and the culture to suit their needs this would be a centuries-long endeavour which would, in the Reavers' minds, result in far too many of them being tied down and killing the very spirit of who they were. This was the state of the Kraken Reavers when they happened upon a contingent of the Dusk Howlers Chapter, fellow scions of Leman Russ. Upon making contact with them the Reavers learned of other chapters of Russ's line, the Crimson Prowlers, Bloodied Hunters, Dawn's Wolves and the Wild Wolves, these Chapters had formed an unofficial collective named the Sons of Russ. When the Krakens joined this Collective they were granted the right to collect recruits from the Homeworlds of its members, thus allowing the Krakens to draw more suitable recruits who could survive the implantation better and whose culture was more in line with their own, allowing for more time to be spent training and Reaving.
Combat Doctrines
- "Bring us about and make ready the boarding party. We've crippled her and now I wish to gut her, fire a salvo as soon as we launch I want them to know we're coming for them."
- — Othgar Ironlegs, Captain of the Strike Cruiser, Toothed Maw, before boarding a traitor ship
The Kraken Reavers are first and foremost a void combat force.
They excel in ship to ship combat
Chapter Beliefs
Hafgufa
The Space Wolves are well known for the key role wolves play in their character, wolves are a common feature in almost all aspects of their heraldry and culture, and many of their newly founded successors have followed suit. However, there are those who break the mold and who in some case are radically different, one of the most notable examples are the Kraken Reavers, to them there is only one creature in the galaxy worthy, the destroyers of ships, the beasts of the void who strike fear in the hearts of all who sail, the Void Kraken, and of all them, none is more respected and revered by the Kraken Reavers than the mythical God and Father of all Void Krakens, 'Hafgufa'. Whether he exists or not Hafgufa is viewed by the Kraken Reavers in a similar light to how the Twelve Wolves of Fenris are viewed by the Space Wolves.
The Vikanmoot
The Vikanmoot, or Reavers Assembly, is a custom of the Kraken Reavers in which they decide their Chapter Master or Lord Reaver/ Jarl Vikan. A council is held with all the captains of the chapter's ships, any Astartes who leads a ship may participate when a Vikanmoot is held, for as it is said among the Reavers that "Every captain is a Master upon of his own ship". Candidates may try to sway their fellow captains with a speech on their prowess and are allowed 4 chosen members of his crew to vouch for their deeds; only once a vast majority call out a candidate's name to proclaim him Lord Reaver does the Vikanmoot end. Throughout the process the Void Priests of the chapter watch over and officiate the assembly, it is they who proclaim the victor. Whilst the choosing of their chapter master by election is not unique to the Kraken Reavers, the manner in which it is done is.
Chapter Gene-Seed
Genetic Flaws
Deathwatch Service
Notable Members
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Relics
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
Chapter Badge
Relations
Allies
Enemies
Notable Quotes
By the Kraken Reavers
- "We seek the beasts that you fear the most. We chase the nightmares of the Void, that haunt your cowardly lives. The deadlier the beast... the more we Revel in the hunt. We hunted beasts and we have become them. So fear us, fear us and our wrath wherever you can see the endless void of space. For the Reavers stalk the void."
- —Ivarok the Boneclaimer, High Void Priest
- "They act like wolves in void combat, treat it like a pack of wolves hunting something in space. Course you ain't got void wolves have ya? But you sure got Void Krakens, and they know what they're doing. Even so theirs no one id rather fight and reave alongside with than those Crimson Prowlers"
- —Dagmer the Red, Assault Intercessor of the Toothed Maw, talking about the Crimson Prowlers
About the Kraken Reavers
- "They are wild and uncouth, savage and bloody. They are more akin to a band of Pirates and Raiders than an Astartes Chapter. But by the Emperor I cannot deny I would happily have a contingent of them permanently attached to my fleet as there are few as skilled and capable in boarding the enemy than they."
- —Admiral Sasha Ulven of the Imperial Navy, describing the Kraken Reavers to a fellow Admiral
 Sons of Russ Chapters
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| Member Chapters | Beasts Undaunted • Blades of Morkai • Bloodied Hunters • Cernachian Wardens • Crimson Prowlers • Dawn's Wolves • Dusk Howlers • Dusk Stalkers • Fangs of Fenrir • Grey Wolves • Hartlords • Iron Beasts • Kraken Reavers • Kraken Sons • Moonlight Stalkers • Sea Kings • Sky Wolves • Stone Bears • Tempest Wolves • Void Selkies • Waveborn • Wild Hunt • Wild Wolves • Wolves of Blood and Bone • |
 Space Wolves Successor Chapters 
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| Ultima Founding | Abyss Stalkers • Ascetics of Korit • Astral Bears • Beasts Undaunted • Blades of Morkai • Blood Predators • Blood Seekers • Bloodied Hunters • Cernachian Wardens • Crimson Prowlers • Dawn's Wolves • Dusk Howlers • Dusk Stalkers • Fangs of Fenrir • Fangs of Vidar • Ghost Wolves • Golden Boars • Gore Wolves • Grey Wolves • Greymanes • Hartlords • Iron Beasts • Kraken Reavers • Kraken Sons • The Mastodons • Maws of Fenris • Moonlight Stalkers • Night Wolves • Painted Hounds • Phantom Wolves • Red Wolves • Sky Wolves • Stone Bears • Tempest Fangs • Tempest Wolves • Void Selkies • Waveborn • West Khan Wolves • Wild Hunt • Wild Wolves • Wolf Knights • Wolfborn • Wolves of Blood and Bone • Wolves of Redemption • Wolves of Yggdrasil • |
| Extinct | Corpse Wolves • |
| Renegades | Bloodborn Wolves • † Skyrar's Dark Wolves • |
Trivia
Gallery
