In the boundless cosmic abyss, nestled in the firmament for a staggering 10,000 years, lies the revered home of the Raven Guard, a chapter of Space Marines unlike any other. Known for maintaining an intimate relationship with the societies from which they recruit their warriors, the Raven Guard has been the stalwart guardian of Kovar and Deliverance, leveraging the technological resources of these planets to adapt standard template constructs to their unique needs.
Any force daring enough to invade Deliverance is guaranteed to pay a hefty toll in blood, a testament to the indomitable defense of the Raven Guard. This defense is no luxury, but a necessity, as the Forar sector, where the Raven Guard fortress stands, has been a magnet for threats, most notably the savage Orks of W. The peril only escalated with the opening of the Great Rift, increasing the need for eternal vigilance.
The Raven Spire, an imposing fortress-monastery, is the heart of the Raven Guard. When Korax, the primarch of the Raven Guard, first claimed this venerable castle, he found its defenses in a state of neglect. With the help of surviving techno guild adepts and an influx of Imperial resources, Korax transformed the decaying fortress into an impregnable bastion bristling with weaponry capable of obliterating a small military fleet.
The fortress became more than just a military stronghold; it represented the hope that Korax brought to the Kovar system, embodying the essence of the Raven Guard. However, just as Korax himself has faded into legend over the millennia, so too has the grandeur of the Raven Spire. Its once gleaming towers now stand rusted and grim, their cavernous halls and training grounds seldom filled.
Roaming these empty corridors are robed servitors, their bionic limbs scraping the floor like a warrior’s death rattle, giving the impression of a presence greater than oneself. The fortress, lit by a dim light as if torn from darkness, seems to be governed by some ancient machine spirit, giving rise to rumors that the fortress itself is sentient.
But the Raven Spire is far from a decaying relic. Its sturdy walls and fierce gun batteries remain a testament to the enduring power of the Raven Guard. They favor functionality over ostentation and display, rejecting the gleaming statues and lofty honors of other chapters.
The highest tower of the Raven Spire, known as the Eyrie, is where Korax secluded himself for a year, seeking penance for the genetic abomination he had inflicted upon his sons. Few dare to enter the Eyrie since Korax’s departure, and those who do speak of an unseen presence that seems to fill the air.
Beneath the Raven Spire lies an ancient apothecarium, a relic from the time of the Horus Heresy. Known only to a select few within the chapter and accessible only with the chapter master’s permission, it was here that Korax’s attempts to expedite the revival of his shattered legion resulted in the creation of monstrous mutants devoid of reason. A dreadful reminder of the primarch’s fallibility, the apothecarium stands as a testament to the dire consequences of unchecked arrogance.
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