Grasping Shadows

A Heretic Astartes of the Grasping Shadows

The **Grasping Shadows** are an anomalous Chaos Space Marine warband that have plagued the Eastern Fringes since 813.M41. The heretics would appear seemingly out of nowhere and perform fast and deadly strikes on whatever settlement was unfortunate enough to draw their attention. At least initially, the Grasping Shadows seemed to prioritize T'au targets over others, swooping in at the dead of night and slaughtering everything in the area.

Since the opening of the Great Rift, however, these silent monstrosities have begun to appear across the galaxy, leading some to believe that they are more than a mere band of isolated traitors. Their has been no noticeable strategy in their attacks outside of killing for the sake of killing and doing so silently and efficiently. The only discernable motive for their actions is their ghoulish obsession with using the severed arms and hands of their victims to adorn their armor.

## Warband History

### Origin

Though their first recorded appearance dates to 813.M41, The Grasping Shadows have been operating in the Eastern Fringes for longer than Imperial records indicate. The warband dates its origins back to the infamous Damocles Gulf Crusade. In truth, The Grasping Shadows were at one time squads of Raven Guard present at the battle of Perfectia. After the fall of Corvin Severax, a number of these Raven Guard went mad from grief. After the order to retreat was given, a contingent of said Raven Guard and several squads of White Scars chose to remain on the planet to continue the attack.

Finally, after days of terrorizing Perfectia (now called Vas'Talos), the motley crew commandeered a transport and made their way to Agrellan for the final offensive. They would hack and slash their way all across the planet's surface, until they began to hear whispers resembling those of their former chapter master. They emanated from the radioactive wastes, calling for strange trinkets made from flesh and sinew.

The rogue astartes became more aggressive, even going so far as to pose as loyalists to steal fallen geneseed. Before the battle for the final hive city, the renegades broke off further contact from the main force and seemingly disappeared into the desert. In order to quell suspicions of heresy , the Raven Guard claimed that the renegades were an extension of their covert forces attempting to draw the T'au away from the main conflict. Regardless, it was uniformly agreed that they were lost in the planet's destruction.

### Resurgence

Months later, reports of massacres caused by nocturnal monsters began to surface from T'au colonies. Oddly, they never performed any prolonged engagements, nor did they do anything else to set a foothold in T'au space. While the blows were dealt with surgical precision, they seemed to serve no strategic purpose. This would continue for a number of decades before the first Imperial casualties were reported. When the agri-world of Causcis showed a drop in its tithe production, the matter was promptly investigated due to its proximity to T'au space.

The inhabitants of one of the major farming sectors were found gruesomely mutilated, with no survivors being discovered. The only sign of the invaders were the shadowy beings shown on the security records, some of which sported bony, beak-like protrusions. It was believed that the perpetrators were either Kroot, assumed to have eaten the victims hands, or an as-of-yet undiscovered Xenos species working with the T'au.

### The Ishtar Incident

It was not until an astartes strike cruiser belonging to the infamous **Bloodmoon Hunters** went missing while patrolling the **Ishtar Fringe** that the Inquisition began to suspect something more sinister than T'au operatives were at work. After months of steady observation, the Inquisition managed to witness a raid first-hand. Inquisitor Raleigh of the Ordo Malleus had been watching supply shipments across the sector when he was notified that the missing astartes strike cruiser was attacking a supply ship. The Inquisitor and his retinue arrived in time to board said ship and immediately understood the gravity of what had been happening.

What had been speculated to be xenos had in fact been horrifically mutated astartes. Their armor had clearly been twisted by the warp and stained purple from the mixed blood of their victims, but this was not what confirmed the inquisitor's suspicions. Their armor was adorned in the hands of humans and various xenos species, some of which were growing from their armor to form belts and masks. The other predominant feature of the chaos marines was their apparent preference for Corvus pattern power armor, with some of their helmets being morphed into skeletal avian facsimiles.

Inquisitor Raleigh barely escaped the engagement with his life, but not before a being that he would later describe as "**The Lord of Harvests**" ensured that he left with one less hand than he arrived with. Before the Inquisitor could mount a retaliatory attack, both the strike cruiser and its prey vanished into the warp, thus confirming the suspicions of Chaotic malignance.

## Notable Events

### Damocles Gulf Crusade 742.M41

The Grasping Shadows began as rogue squads of Raven Guard and White Scars during the Damocles Gulf Crusade, having gone AWOL after the death of Corvin Severax at the hands of the T'au commander, **Shadowsun**. Having already become unstable due to their grief, these renegades were more susceptible to the whispers of the warp that emanated from the desert wastes on Agrellan. What they believed to be the voice of their fallen chapter master was, in reality, a currently unidentified warp entity.

### The Ishtar Incident 814.M41

Until this point, the Inquisition were baffled as to what was causing the string of massacres on Imperial colonies and how the attackers were able to come and go without detection. As evidenced by Inquisitor Raleigh's account, the Grasping Shadows seem to possess the innate ability to traverse The Warp at will, as well as being able to shrug off wounds that would kill standard astartes. This was also the first recorded encounter that the Imperium had with what was assumed to be the warlord of the Grasping Shadows. The confrontation gave an insight into the workings of the warband's culture, if such a word is even applicable.

### The 13th Black Crusade 999.M41

Like many other Chaos warbands, the Grasping Shadows could not resist the allure of spreading terror across the galaxy amidst the turmoil of the 13th Black Crusade. Having become little more than animalistic butchers, they were kept at an arm's length from the main forces and were instead unleashed upon the outskirts of Imperial space in order to further draw attention away from the main conflict. They are currently appearing across the galaxy in numbers far greater than their origins should allow, leading some to believe that there is more to this legion of monsters than is understood.

## Organization

The structuring of the Grasping Shadows warband is largely fleet-based, though no one knows its size for certain. This gives them the appearance of being everywhere at once and helps to confound their prey. Various ships have been seen to be in their possession, ranging from strike cruisers, frigates, and supply ships, all of which add to their subterfuge. It is unknown if each of these ships are crewed by a select company or if they are interchanged between operations.

During engagements, these astartes show unexpected tactical prowess, as they are capable of sowing destruction with minimal squad numbers while suffering little in the way of casualties. These squads usually range between five and ten members. The Grasping Shadows also employ the use of cultists, usually keeping them aboard the same ships as their astartes masters. This is done to ensure that both groups become acquainted with the other's tactics.

## Domain

Though the Grasping Shadows have begun to appear across the galaxy, they are known to frequent the Ishtar Fringe located in Segmentum Ultima. It is theorized that this is due to the myriad warp routes present in the sub-sector, as they prefer to use such routes to perform their ambush strikes across the galaxy. They have also been observed to raid the T'au colonies in this area, sometimes even preventing expansions with their murderous harvests.

The Inquisition suspects that the traitors possess a base of operations located within The Maelstrom, though just what form this base takes is up for debate. Because the nature of the anomaly discourages extended exploration, no one has dared to seek out the home of the Grasping Shadows. However, their have been reports of a large, jagged mass being visible through the warp portals that they use to make their getaways. It is speculated that this object is a space hulk, dubbed **The Umbral Maw**, residing somewhere in The Maelstrom.

The heretics have also been known to prey on Imperial worlds within this section of Wild Space. One of their preferred targets is the agri world of **Cyprus Eden**, as it is contested by the T'au and the Imperium. In order to prevent one side from gaining the upper hand, as it would make their raids more difficult, the Grasping Shadows try to keep them at each other's throats. One of their favored methods is performing raids on outlying settlements and leaving evidence to indicate the presence of a rival, i.e. attacking an Imperial outpost and planting T'au bodies and weapons or vice versa.

On several occasions, the Grasping Shadows have clashed with the sector's Guard Regiments and even the enigmatic Bloodmoon Hunters. In fact, it is only during such engagements that the warband employs the use of Havocs, as their usual hit and run tactics are far less effective against the firepower brought on by the Bloodmoon Hunters' armor columns. As such, they rarely attack in the open and lie in wait until an opportunity presents itself. Otherwise, they prefer to engage in void combat, as they are far more efficient in the close combat situations associated with boarding attacks.

## Warband Structure

Due to the fact that the renegades either refuse or are unable to speak, it is difficult to glean any insight into their methods of war. As such, any estimations are made through observation. Though their tactics resemble animalistic brutality, the Grasping Shadows are far more organized than one would assume. By unknown means, the warband operates under a form of hive-mind, meaning that every operation is carried out according to the will of the head. It is unknown whether the source of this hive mind is the fabled Lord of Harvests or some daemonic patron. Regardless, it has been determined that this influence can be relegated to the warband's field commanders.

## Warband Beliefs

Not much can be said about the beliefs of the Grasping Shadows, as they are not keen on sharing anything outside of bloodshed. However, they have been observed offering tribute to *something* in the Warp during their rituals. Precious little is known about this entity due to the warband's aforementioned reclusive nature. However, information can be ascertained from observing certain traits present in the Grasping Shadows' tactics, tendencies and overall appearance.

Firstly, the heretics show a markedly high resilience in combat, as they have been observed reattaching severed limbs and even their heads during one instance. This combined with their obsession with carrion and the rotten miasma that follows them appear to be clear indicators of Nurglite influence. However, the warband also has habits that could be attributed to other entities. For example: their usage of avian iconography, their preternatural stealth capabilities, and their innate ability to traverse the warp at will appear to point towards Tzeentch or one of his greater daemons being their patron. Their penchant for melee combat and the smearing of blood on their armor could also be seen as a Khornate ritual. Conversely, the perverse pleasure that the warband takes from collecting the arms and hands of their victims could be taken as some form of devotion to Slaanesh.

In all likelihood, the being in question is either a Greater Daemon of Nurgle or an undivided warp entity, and the warband's various deeds are simple coincidence rather than specific veneration. Until this being makes an appearance or a traitor yields to interrogation, the truth is likely to remain a mystery.

## Warband Culture

The demeanor of the Grasping Shadows can be described in one word: Feral. They act like ravenous animals, fighting over severed arms, shiny trinkets, weapons, etc. However, they have never been known to kill one another, as there are likely severe consequences for doing so. How large the warband's fleet is or how they organize themselves is unknown, but each contingent is watched over by a field commander who keeps the motley traitors in check. As such, every member views these paragons of authority with fear and respect, as it is their duty to dispense rewards or punishment.

This respect is only exceeded by the Lord of Harvests and their mysterious, warpspawned benefactor. However, Raptors and especially Warp Talons are venerated as avatars of this patron, as they swoop into the thick of battle and leave with whatever remains of their quarry. As such, every member of the Grasping Shadows yearns to join these demigods in the night sky so that they too can carry out their dark master's will.

### Recruitment Process

The Grasping Shadows usually draw their recruits from feral worlds, both due to the fact that the primitive mentalities of the populace are similar to their own and that they are already skilled hunters and warriors. The warband is not opposed to taking more civilized additions, as they have been observed taking potential recruits during raids on Imperial settlements. These recruits are first instituted among the cultists where they receive combat training and observe the tactics of their astartes masters. When a number of cultists show themselves capable, they are selected for ascension.

In order to test their mettle, the initiates were originally dropped on death worlds and forced to survive. However, since the opening of the Great Rift, the heretics have taken to performing the same procedure on the newly dubbed chaos world of **Lebendstein**, as the living stone abominations that call the planet home present a much greater challenge than any adverse weather condition. Whatever initiates remain after 4 days are taken to the nearest warship and given Raven Guard geneseed before being indoctrinated via the **Corvid Mentalis**, a horrid contraption devised by the tech-savvy members of the warband.

## Warband Gene-Seed

Beyond the obvious effects of warp taint, the geneseed of the Grasping Shadows is identical to that of the Raven Guard. In the rare event that an astartes from the warband is seen without a helmet, they have been described as possessing gaunt skin, black eyes, and matted, jet-black hair.

## Warband Combat Doctrine

### Standard Tactics

The Grasping Shadows excel at sewing discord and reaping death through their use of terror tactics and subterfuge. However, they are pitifully outclassed in the art of siege warfare as their hit-and-run tactics fall flat in the face of heavy fortifications. In recognition of this weakness, the warband instead targets undefended outposts and colonies in the outer fringes of the galaxy, only participating in sieges with the backing of allies. Otherwise, like an opportunistic predator, they are perfectly content with striking unwary prey.

In the case of a civilized world, the warband usually spends months observing their targets before organizing any sort of attack. By doing so, they not only ascertain the planet's defenses, but also determine the best time for a raid. When enough information is gathered, the warband will either use one of their stolen supply ships or commandeer a local vessel to transport their deadly cargo. Always arriving at night, the raiders begin by quietly infiltrating the local power grid and relay stations before waiting for further orders.

Next, a vanguard of cultists are released upon the populace to scatter their prey and soften up resistance. While local militias are distracted, the operatives stationed at the power grid cut the feed to the entire city so the real carnage can begin. Having observed the tactics of the planet's defense force prior to the attack, the Grasping Shadows know exactly where the civilians, their true targets, will have been hidden. At strategic points within the city, astartes appear from the shadows and tear at their foes with vicious chain sickles and razor-mounted bolt pistols as their more heavily-armed brothers make their way to intercept their quarry before they can reach the bunkers.

To deter their prey, Raptors are deployed above the city to whisk away stragglers or eliminate troublesome gun emplacements. In the event that the civilians reach their bunkers, the pursuers use flails and power mauls to breach its walls before making off with their prisoners and trophies. Additionally, if the warband identifies a high value target, they will unleash their Warp Talons to hunt them down. However, this is only done when the target in question is not needed alive, as these hunters are seldom careful enough leave their prey in one piece.

If a target is to be taken alive, usually only to be sacrificed, a Field Commander will see to their capture personally. In fact, if the quarry is of significant importance, such as a planetary governor, a commander of the Imperial Guard, or a T'au Ethereal, the dreaded Lord of Harvests will come for them. These feared leaders of the Grasping Shadows are always accompanied by an entourage of Chaos Chosen to ensure that nothing stands between them and their prey.

### Unconventional Tactics

The Grasping Shadows only resort to fire support and defensive measures under the most grim of circumstances. For example: if the opponent prepares armored counterattacks, they will pull their forces back before regrouping, rather than facing them head-on. If such a scenario occurs, the warband will resort to stealth and guerilla warfare, opting to lure the foe away from the safety of their fortifications.

They do so by keeping themselves just in view to give the pursuers the impression that they have them on the run. Meanwhile, the Grasping Shadows slowly reduce the enemy's numbers by placing pit traps and jury rigging mines from grenades. These tactics can be especially deadly when applied in a low visibility environment like jungles or massive urban sprawl. This can go on for days, weeks, or, if the enemy is persistent enough, until the vehicles' fuel supply runs out. Once the enemy force's have been sufficiently harried, strategically placed Havoc squads annihilate whatever remains of the armor columns before the raiders emerge from the shadows and tear at their weakened foes with the aid of Raptors.

## Notable Members

### **The Lord of Harvests**

The Lord of Harvests is what was assumed by Inquisitor Raleigh to be the leader of the Grasping Shadows. At first glance, the warlord appears to possess a base, almost bestial intelligence like his kin. His power over them seems to be instinctual, as he merely needs to glance at an objective for his warriors to carry out their unspoken orders with horrific efficiency. However, the brutish appearance of this entity belies a cold, calculating mind capable of coordinating multiple, frenzied attacks across a planet's surface simultaneously.

His position does not prevent him from taking to the field to personally dispatch the warband's foes. On numerous occasions, the Lord of Harvests has proven himself to be more than a match for anyone foolish enough to meet him in combat. Though he is slow and lumbering, the being possesses a supernatural durability that ensures his chances of reaching his prey unscathed. If his target proves to be particularly elusive, the cyclopean warlord is capable of using the currents of the warp to focus on the being's soul before using barbed chains to ensnare them.

## Warband Fleet

As previously mentioned, the Grasping Shadows lack a specific fleet. They instead commandeer ships from across the galaxy, usually from systems that they intend to raid. The size of the fleet is unknown as the warband tends to cycle through them to avoid being traced. The ships observed to be in their possession include: T'au supply and command ships, an Ork Kroozer, Battle barges from various Space Marine Chapters, and Imperial trade and supply ships of numerous sizes and grades.

## Warband Relics

### Corvid Mentalis

The **Corvid Mentalis** is a crude hypno-indoctrination apparatus created and utilized by the Grasping Shadows. The contraption resembles a helmet with a vaguely beak-shaped appendage toward the front. It is connected via a series of wires to a cogitator for monitoring. Though its original purpose was to instill a fierce hatred of the T'au, the deficit of technological expertise among the warband combined with the lack of viable materials ensured that the device instead became a glorified brain-scrambler. Because of this, the Grasping Shadows have either forgotten or are incapable of understanding its true function, having since relegated its use to a rite of passage. This ensures that any initiates that have, by some miracle, managed to maintain their sanity through the Warband's hellish training have it ripped away by this horrid machine.

## Warband Appearance

The physical appearance of the Grasping Shadows is horrific to say the least. Beyond the "standard" warp mutations (tentacles, horns, etc.), the warband sports rather specific aberrations, most of which involve hands. The growths resembling hands sprout from various points on an astartes' armor and range greatly in size and usage. These mutations extend directly from the armor and appear to have forced their way from between the plating. They take on grotesquely utilitarian purposes, such as: clasping hands forming belt buckles, masks to cover the mouth, or extra plating on knee-pads.

From what has been gleaned, these formations are viewed as blessings from their patron and serve as its symbols. Additionally, members of the warband wear avian skulls and black feathers on their armor. It is unknown whether this is due to their history as Raven Guard defectors or if it is meant to bear resemblance to their patron.

### Warband Badge

The symbol of the Grasping Shadows is much less uniform than those of other warbands. The hand print is placed on the pauldron of heretic astartes after the completion of the induction ritual. The nature of the glowing pigment used in the process as well as where it comes from is unknown to outsiders, however its usage has been observed in summoning rituals as well as the painting of runes on armor.

## Relations

### Allies:

The Grasping Shadows are beholden to no one but themselves and their mysterious master who dwells in the Warp. However, despite their bestial tendencies, the warband can actually be reasoned with, though communication can only be done with their field commanders. In exchange for wargear, geneseed, or even Chaos relics, the heretics will do just about anything, so long as they can have their trophies. However, the warband's desires are hardly predictable and the Grasping Shadows are capricious at the best of times. In some cases, they have been known to complete their given objectives only to turn around and attack their benefactors.

### Enemies:

##### Raven Guard

The Raven Guard despise the Grasping Shadows immensely, as they are not only traitors of the highest order, but also represent a failure to maintain control over their grief. As such, it does not take long for any appearance of these vile beings to be reported to the Raven Guard and their successors, who have been known to hunt them down. The Grasping Shadows have also been shown to be a serious threat, as they attack these successors for their geneseed.

##### Bloodmoon Hunters

The Bloodmoon Hunters have a grudge against this animalistic warband for a number of reasons, namely the theft of one of their strike cruisers as well as the geneseed of their fallen comrades within. Additionally, the Grasping Shadows appear to have claimed the Ishtar sector's warp-routes as part of their territory, raising the risk of raids on local worlds to perilous levels. However these Astartes have shown themselves to be more than a match for the traitors, as their use of mechanized infantry has proven difficult, but not impossible, for the Grasping Shadows to counter.

##### The T'au Empire

Asking the T'au why they dislike the Grasping Shadows is like asking a seal why it hates orcas or a psyker why they hate daemons. Despite the passing of several centuries and the mind-bending nature of the Warp, the warband has not forgotten the blow dealt by Shadowsun during the Damocles Gulf Crusade. The Grasping Shadows stalk T'au supply lines and exact heavy tolls through frequent attacks on their colonies.

## Notable Quotes

### By The Grasping Shadows

"*Rise, oh vast one, He who... the unknowable Torag... Grant unto us... the center of oblivion... Accept these, our humble offering, so that you may curse us once more!... Y'gah!... morshub wikna... That which should not be... tsarlig!...* "
—Transcript of a Ritual Performed by the Grasping Shadows.
Memetic Phrases Have Been Removed by Inquisitorial Order CH: <REDACTED>
### About The Grasping Shadows

"*It was large and lumbering, even for an Astartes. A putrid, almost tangible odor followed it. Due to the darkness, I could only make out certain features, namely, its skeletal beak, its singular, burning viridescent eye, and the monstrous weapon that could only be called an axe by association. The bulk of the thing seemed to writhe unnaturally as it sauntered into view. Its kindred seemed leery in its presence, almost as if they feared it. As it passed under one of the dim, flickering lights of the ancient vessel, I nearly lost myself. It bore a massive cage on its back, filled to burst with severed arms. But this is not what tested my resolve. It was that they were **still moving**.*"
—Inquistor Raleigh of the Ordo Malleus detailing his encounter with The Lord of Harvests

[Source]

 Tzeentch Warbands
 Nurgle Warbands
 Slaanesh Warbands
 Chaos Undivided Warbands
 Malice Warbands
 Minor Chaos God-Aligned Warbands

[Source]

## Trivia

* The concept for the aesthetics of the Grasping Shadows and the Lord of Harvests was inspired by the designs of third-party miniatures created by Atlan Forge. I expanded everything else regarding lore and colors.