225th Lunar Venatorii Heavy Cavalry Regiment

Lunar Venatorii Badge Concept

Lunar Venatorii Trooper

### **Special Weapons**

Plasma Guns, Taser Goads, Power Swords, Wyrm Scale Daggers, Grenade Launchers, Storm Bolters

## Commanders

### **Notable Commanders**

Major Theophania Nightingale,
 Lt Jethro Vega Felinid Liaison,
 Lt Karin Grissom Ratling Liaison

The **225th Lunar Venatorii Heavy Cavalry Regiment**, known unofficially as the '***Lunar Valkyries***' , is an Astra Militarum Armor Regiment hailing from a little known sector of space close to the borders of the Tau Empire. The soldiers of the frontier worlds of this sub-sector of space form the Lunar Venatorii Cavalry Regiments of the Astra Militarum, famed in the Imperium for their diverse units and atypical forms of combat. They form into additional personnel for various fleets that transship through the area into the dangerous edges of the galaxy. Lunar Venatorii have faced everything from xenos to Chaos in their sector but have always stood strong in the light of the Emperor.

Among these Regiments is the 225th. The 225th is an Heavy Cavalry Regiment of the Lunar Venatorii Astra Militarum forces deployed to multiple war-zones since its inception long ago, the most recent of which being a Hive siege, aiding the Inquisition in suppressing several Chaos war-bands. They are known among the Lunar Venatorii as a kind of specialized armor regiment whose way of warfare is breaking down fortified areas. The 225th specialize in heavy armored warfare. These wild ladies decide who die on the battlefield.

The '*Lunar Valkyries*' is comprised of approximately 2,500 Guardsmen, 200 Ogryn, 200 Ratlings, 200 Felinids, and over 1,500 Enginseers and support personnel divided into roughly 5 Battalions, each Battalion further broken into 3 to 5 Companies apiece. Part of the uniqueness of this Regiment is how the Battalions are divided and their mission sets.

## History

Lunar Venatorii are disciplined, elite soldiers who fight without hesitation until their orders are fulfilled. Commanders of the Lunar Venatorii are harsh yet inspiring leaders who ensure that every military objective is achieved -- no matter the cost. Without the iron-willed resolution of both, the Imperium would be severely weakened in its darkest hour. As well as being the elite wing of the Astra Militarum in Ishtar, the Lunar Venatorii is the training ground for the Imperium's finest martial operatives in Cavalry and Armor outside of the legendary Adeptus Astartes.

The 225th Heavy Cavalry was the 225th raising of Armored Regiments. Lunar Venatorii Regiments tend to be small by some standards but the support of their Forge World has meant that at least their armament is as fine as any other. 225th in particular was especially favored with a mobile fortress as well as three Super Heavy Grade Command Tanks. Due to the fact that the 225th was classified as a Heavy Cavalry Regiment as well they got the sectors levies of ab-humans as support detachments. This made the 225th one of the largest fighting forces produced by the Lunar Venatorii. The open and often deadly atmospheres of the fringe planets in Ishtar Subsector meant fielding such a Heavy Regiment and high numbers was rare.

Lunar Venatorii generally operated under the assumption of independence and wise use of resources. Wars of attrition was strictly to be of last resource least the regiments of the Lunar Venatorii fall below acceptable combat strength. Each Colonel was to have a staff of trainers to replenish losses as pockets of manpower are found. Due to the low amount of manpower each planet can possibly give, the Sector Lord took whatever volunteers or not he could get. Beastmen, Oygrn, Ratling, some other type of abhuman it did not matter. Tithe exempt or not did not matter for the sub-sector was hurting for resources. Most of the Frontier worlds in the sub-sector were classified as dead or death worlds.

The 225th over time has been combined with 45th Inanis Thrasher Mechanized Infantry remenants who were integrated into the 3rd battalion and with 76th Lunar Venatorii Dragoon Regiment into elements of it's 2nd battalion.

## Regimental Home-worlds and Sub-sector

The 225th specifically come from the population of Verliaus. It is like any Schola moon taking children who were orphaned when their parents perished in the service of the Emperor of Mankind, from daughters of Imperial Guard officers killed on the battlefield, to sons of Imperial administrators lost in the far reaches of space, and trains them to become the backbone of Imperial society as servants of the various branches of the Adeptus Terra. at the very edge of the Ishtar Sub-sector on the Eastern Fringe of the Galaxy. Ishtar Sub-Sector is the last bastion before going past the edge of the light of the Emperor. Here the depredations of the xenos is constant. The Lunar Venatorii Regiments are raised from all the worlds here and given training before being provided to the various wars of the Imperium. Due the high amount of conflict and deep investments of the Cult Mechanicus in the sub-sector most worlds here have pledged some sort of agreement with their benefactors originally hailing from a Explorator Fleet from Incendius Lux.

The Forge World Mjorn of the sub-sector origins are of a sect of Incendius Lux Tech-priests who established the Imperial presence long ago. In time, the sub-sector has been raised as a bastion of Imperial might before the dark beyond. With a Chapter of the mighty Adeptus Astartes, establishing a home-world among these planets the security of the sector should be ensured in time. Further a Knight Household has claimed responsibility for pushing the bounds on the Frontier Worlds. Unfortunately, not all as well in this corner as humanity is ever frail in their belief, several have fallen to chaos.

For a sub-sector with so many warriors, it is under constant conflict. few planets if any are untouched by hands of Xenos or traitors. Under the constant attacks more and more resources are being raised to push all others out. The fully Imperial worlds of sub-sector Ishtar are generally exempt from manpower tithes, yet manpower is desperately needed. Between the constant depletion from pushing the front on many Frontier Worlds which are not technically Imperial and the needs of Fleets passing through the area, keeping strength in Regiments is a constant battle.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Siege of Hive Corinth (030.M42) -** The 225th, alongside multiple Astra Militarum regiments, defeated an alliance of various Chaos Cults.

## Dramatis Personae

**Executive Officer Major Theophania Nightingale** - a experienced Tank Commander. In the 225th, Colonel Hill commands from behind the lines from the mobile fortress. The *de facto* forward commander of the 225th is Major Nightingale.

**Lt Jethro Vega** - The Felinid Liaison for a Dumizid Felinid Hellcats Detachment is one of the few males in the 225th Lunar Venatorii. It was his pride as a whole that volunteered to join the guard in exchange for extraction from their World. In this instance they had no where else to turn and in the shuffle his family and more got combined into the whole of the detachment to the 225th. Luckily due to the nature of the Frontiers and the constant exposure to the alien the fear was less than elsewhere.

**Lt Karin Grissom** - a Ratling Liaison is one of the smartest scavengers of the 225th. Due to her ability to get her hands on any part or piece of equipment for the Regimental headquarters she was positioned as the liaison for the Ratlings. Rarely is she seen far from Headquarters, especially the mess hall.

## Organization and Tactics

The Lunar Valkyries is comprised of approximately 2,500 Guardsmen, 200 Oygrn, 200 Ratlings, 200 Beastmen, and over 1,500 Engineseers and support personnel divided into roughly 5 Battalions, each Battalion further broken into 3 to 5 Companies apiece.

**Executive Officer Major Theophania Nightingale**
**Banehammer Super Heavy Command Tank *Duat***
**10 Leman Rus Main Battle Tanks**
**10 Atlas Recovery Tanks**
**100 Guardswomen** | **10 Leman Russ Main Battle Tanks**
**100 Guardswomen** | **10 Leman Russ Main Battle Tanks**

**Stormlord Super Heavy Command Tank *Sheol***
**1 Crassus Armored Transport**
**2 Chimera Chassis Armored Personnel Carrier**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport**
**1 Crassus Armored Transport**
**2 Chimera Chassis Armored Personnel Carrier**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport**
**1 Crassus Armored Transport**
**2 Chimera Chassis Armored Personnel Carrier**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport**
**1 Crassus Armored Transport**
**2 Chimera Chassis Armored Personnel Carrier**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport**
**1 Crassus Armored Transport**
**2 Chimera Chassis Armored Personnel Carrier**

**Stormhammer Command Tank *Tartarus***
**2 Hellbore Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Mole Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Hades Breaching Drill**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Termite Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**2 Hellbore Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Mole Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Hades Breaching Drill**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Termite Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**2 Hellbore Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Mole Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Hades Breaching Drill**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Termite Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**2 Hellbore Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Mole Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Hades Breaching Drill**
**150 Guardswomen** | **2 Termite Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**2 Hellbore Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Mole Pattern Burrow Vehicle**
**1 Hades Breaching Drill**

**Command Salamander Light Tank**
**5 Combat Motorcycles**
**30 Wyrm Riders**
**5 Combat Motorcycles**
**60 Wyrm Riders** | **Command Salamander Light Tank**
**5 Combat Motorcycles**
**60 Wyrm Riders** | **Command Salamander Light Tank**
**5 Combat Motorcycles**
**60 Horse Troopers** | **Command Salamander Light Tank**
**5 Combat Motorcycles**

**Command Assault Carrier Valkyrie**
**Salamander Command Variant Light Tank**
**3 Sky Talons**
**15 Valkyries**
**200 Ratling Snipers** | **Lieutenant Jethro Vega**

## Regimental Equipment

### Standardized Equipment

The Lunar Venatorii make use of standard Astra Militarum equipment. All Lunar Venatorii are issued Venatorii Carapace Battle Dress and Mjorn Pattern M24 Hellpistol. Each job specification in the Lunar Venatorii then also get assigned additional weapons and equipment based on their role in the regiment.

**Venatorii Carapace Battle Dress**

* Anti-Wicking Body Suit that extends up to jawline
* Flak-Weave Combat Pants
* Armored Gloves and traditional Cavalry Boots
* Over these clothes are Carapace chest, back, and shin plates
* Over the Carapace is a Flak-Weave Duster Coat w/ rank epaulets
* Covering the head is a enclosed Rebreather Mask and traditional Cavalry Hat w/ rank braids
* Over the Duster Coat is a Gear Bandolier w/ power packs, combat knife, frag grenades, uplifting primer, combat rations, and medical supplies
* Standard-issue weapon is a Mjorn Pattern M24 Hellpistol in thigh holster

* **Sergeants** additionally get assigned the grenades allotted to a Squad as well as carry a Ceres Pattern Bolt Carbines.

* **Wyrm Riders**, **Bike Cavalry Scouts**, and **Horse Cavalry Trooper** are armed with a Melta Tipped Hunting Lance in addition to their standard kit.

* **Vehicle Drivers and Crews**, **Sentinel Operators**, and **Vox Adepts** pull only standard kit though the gunner of a crew can requisition additional weapons as needed for mission set. (i.e. Tauros, Taurox, Leman Russ, Chimera, Super Heavy Tanks, HellHounds, etc.)

* The **Line Troopers** is armed with Mjorn Pattern M24 Hellpistol and a Mjorn Pattern M417 Hellgun.

### Standardized Equipment for Abhumans

* **Lion Pride Solar Priests** wears priestly robes over flak armor carrying a Sun Stave in honor of their saviors the sun priests of Radiance. Using an Auto pistol and stave to encourage their fellow Felinid to greater heights of fervor in the name of the Imperium.

* **Tiger Pride Ambush Assault Squads** wear Flak armor with a Grenade Discharger attached to their large frames, they go into battle with Twin Molecular Claw Gauntlets

* **Cheetah Pride Pursuit Squads** wear specialized Flak weave Fatigues for pursuit of the prey for the Imperium carrying an Autopistol and Las-Spears

* **Lynx Pride Bodyguard Details** wear the rare carapace and are armed with Molecular Bladed Bucklers to protect important Imperial officials

* **Snow Leopard Pride Tracker Squads** wear Flak Armor while carrying a autopistol as well as a Snare Whip and Molecular Dagger

* **Ogryns** wear Flak Armour (Ogryn-sized) while carrying a Ripper Gun and Frag Bombs

* **Bullgryns** wear Bullgryn Plate while carrying Grenadier Gauntlet and Slabshield as well as some Frag Bombs, sometimes replacing the Gauntlet and slabshield for a Bullgryn Maul and Brute Shield

* **Ratlings** wear Flak Armor while carrying sniper rifles.

### Non-Standard Equipment

The Lunar Venatorii posses a variety of non-standard equipment.

The Lunar Venatorii Troopers are known to carry extra arms and armament into the field as per their personalities. The specialist and standard equipment are provided to them. But many carry an array of Auto-weapons and blades as extra weaponry to help in a pinch. Most have an extra pistol or two, and almost everyone has a boot blade of some sort. The elite Wyrm Riders generally have blades and armor pieces created out of talons and scales broken off from their mounts.

### Vehicle Patterns Used

##### Heavy Dragoons

* The **Crassus** is a heavily armed and armoured transport, with 2 forward-mounted Heavy Bolters and 2 sponson-mounted Heavy Bolters, and every weapon can be replaced individually with a Heavy Flamer, an Autocannon, or a Lascannon.

* The **Gorgon** is a super-heavy troop transport vehicle of the Imperial Guard. The Gorgon is the Imperium of Man's largest transport vehicle and it is capable of transporting up to 50 soldiers, nearly five times that of the standard Chimera and almost twice that of the super-heavy Crassus Infantry Transport.

##### Armored Cavalry

* The **Leman Russ** is the main battle tank of the Astra Militarum, and is also the most widely deployed tank in the Imperium.

* The **Leman Russ Punisher** is the most potent anti-infantry vehicle in the Astra Militarum, and amongst the best anti-infantry vehicles in the galaxy. Armed with the Punisher Gatling Cannon, a large, multi-barrelled ballistic weapon, it is known as one of the fastest-firing slug throwers in the Imperium's arsenal.

* The **Leman Russ Conqueror** is armed with the Conqueror Cannon, as opposed to the standard Battle Cannon, the Conqueror sacrifices outright destructive power in exchange for improved mobility and accuracy whilst firing on the move.

* The **Leman Russ Annihilator** variant replaces the standard tank's Battle Cannon with a pair of Twin-linked Lascannons.

##### Super Heavy Headquarter Patterns

* A **Capitol Imperialis** is a super-heavy tracked vehicle often used by the Astra Militarum as a mobile command base for the deployment and organisation of multiple regiments.

* The **Banehammer** is armed with a weapon known as a Tremor Cannon, the shells of which are fused to explode only after the force of their impact had already buried them in the ground. Additionally, since the Tremor Cannon is much smaller than the original Volcano Cannon, the Banehammer possesses a large empty hold, which can be used to either transport a small platoon of Imperial Guardsmen, or house a cramped but fully functional headquarters equipped with powerful Vox-casters and tactical arrays from which the officer in charge can lead his troops.

* The **Stormhammer** is a super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum and is the rarest variant of the Baneblade super-heavy tank.

* The **Stormlord** is a rare variant of the Shadowsword that is armed with a turret-mounted Vulcan Mega Bolter and is used in the mass destruction of infantry. By removing the large capacitors used by the Shadowsword's Volcano Cannon the Stormlord gains the ability to transport up to 40 infantry units, more than any other Shadowsword variants.

##### Air Cavalry Detachment

* The **Valkyrie Sky Talon** is a stripped-down Valkyrie modified to carry light vehicles instead of troops. The troop compartment is replaced with magnetic lifting clamps that allow the aircraft to latch-on to light vehicles, such as the Tauros or Drop Sentinels, and drop them from a very low altitude right into the heart of battle.

* The **Valkyrie Vendetta** is a Valkyrie modified to carry 3 Twin-linked Lascannons which allow it to operate in the role of a dedicated tank buster and anti-armour asset while still mounting the two Heavy Bolters at its doors.

* The **Valkyrie assault carrier** is a manoeuvrable, well-armed, twin-engine Attack Craft. The durable armour and versatile payload of the Valkyrie chassis combined with the aircraft's powerful engines and stable handling make it a popular choice for a broad spectrum of battlefield roles.

* The **Elysian Pattern Sentinel** is armed with either a Multi-melta or a Heavy Bolter. Both variants of this pattern have been modified to fit inside a Valkyrie and are fitted with Grav-Chutes, so they can be "parachuted" into combat

## Relations

### Allies

#### **Astra Militarum**

* **Sanguinum Guard Infantry Regiments**: These soldiers are raised from the mercenary and defense forces devoted to the Navigator house of Lunar Sangua. These soldiers are a tithe paid more for honor than anything else as the true resource of the planet is the navigators themselves. Deployed usually as guards for the navigators or as swamp warfare experts these soldiers are average for the Astra Militarum.

* **Ishtar Rangers**: Astra Militarum of their Capitol system and works often them. Ishtar Rangers often work as light Infantry along side the Lunar Venatorii.

* **Dumizid Felinid Hellcats**: The notable Abhuman auxllia detachments that hail from the world of Dumizid, located in the Ishtar Sub-Sector. Dumizid Felinid Hellcat Auxillia Detachments are often attached to various Regiments in the Ishtar Subsector. These Felinid Detachments have a long history of working with Lunar Venatorii units as forward scouts and as bodyguards to important commanders. The Lunar Valkyries specifically have a large detachment of Hellcats.

### Imperial Knights

* **Knight House Fásacha:** Tarakon is an ancient Knight World of the Questoris Familia, whose ruling House Fásacha had long served as the protector of the bleak planets that existed on the other side of the Sanguis Portus. Lunar Venatorii often get deployed to zones in which this house operates.

### Adeptus Astartes

* **Bloodmoon Hunters**: Often working with this mysterious chapter, Lunar Venatorii find enemies dead or vanished as works of this chapter.