Great House RavenmoorSystem: First Harvest
Home World: Nocturnis
Capital: Pallene City
Controlled planets: 8 (off record 10)
Percent of Population in Military Service: 10%
House Motto: “Rise from the shadows.”
Common Battle Cry: “As the Raven Flies!” “From the Shadows!”
Infantry known as "Domavoy" “Revolution” is a word that has passed from lip to ear for many years, in twice as many systems, yet the word alone can never surmise the horror and triumph that is the foundation Great House Ravenmoor.
In the early years of the Commonwealth, there were far more House's competing for top place among the aristocratic elite. In these days the term “Fair Fight” meant simply that if atomic weapons were to be used, the user would mutter a few word apology well after they had turned a planet into an uninhabitable ball of glass. Of these houses one stood out above the others for both it's great size, wealth, and cruelty; House Ursarok.
House Ursarok famously flew its banner of a black bear rampant on a blue field, and like the mighty bear it's strength was overwhelming, as was their ambition. The head of House Ursarok, Baron Boris Ursarok, decided early into his regency that it was his mandate to hold monopoly over all the most necessary of trade in the commonwealth, and with this he started perhaps the bloodiest crusade in Commonwealth history. Ursarok targeted other House's, demanding absolute surrender, or to be brought to heel by force. Many fought him in the early years, but as House after House fell to his war host, more and more houses bent knee rather then suffer the losses and wrath of Ursarok. Many thought that taking their house behind the banner of Ursarok would mean peace, but instead it meant the worst of slavery. The Baron decreed that the Ursarok were superior to all others, and created two class system: Ursarok natives who took on socialite aristocratic positions in society, and Slave labor. As more houses fell, the word “revolution” began the be whispered from the lips of the downtrodden.
Who fired the first shot is anyone’s guess, but “the Shot Heard 'Round the Galaxy” began the greatest rebellion and revolution of mankind. Dozens of planets turned on their oppressors. They called themselves “the Order of the Raven”, as the raven, a carrion bird that would commonly feed on their dead was a reminder of the tyranny they suffered, and as a reminder of why they must fight. Worlds upturned in bloody war, most of the revolutionaries fought with bullet and blade against the superior technology of House Ursarok's beam and particle weaponry. These fire fights were highly aggressive, with the anger of the Order carrying them over their own dead to lay down virtual walls of armor piercing rounds. The seemingly endless, selfless ranks of slaves created great terror in the defending soldiers of Ursarok, and the rally cry of “When the Bear falls, the Ravens feed!” broke the spirits of many field commanders knowing what was in store for them.
The war continued on in favor of the Order for several years, until the Baron destroyed the first of the free worlds, Arason. The freed men never knew what hit them. Several hundred warships carrying “Terra-Nova” class atomic weapons deployed their hellish pay load upon the world. The chain reaction of the weapons unique properties in the planet's atmosphere turned the world into a ball of white hot fire in seconds. All that remained was baron rock and black glass as even the soil was seared away to dust. The Order petitioned the Commonwealth to punish the Baron for their perceived war crime, but the Commonwealth turned it's back to the incident, declaring that as the Order was a revolutionary front, they held no political standing in the Commonwealth and thus, no wrong was faulted on the Baron. To add insult to injury, during the proceedings, the Baron destroyed Atlas VI, a farming world that had recently been freed by the Order.
It was then, that on the planet Nocturnis, that House Ravenmoor came to be. It's name taken from the Order of the Raven, and blood soaked marsh of the battlefields that so many had died in the name of freedom. Their flag, purple and white represented the blood soaked blue flags of the Ursarok, and the white purity of freedom. They retained the raven for the same reasons they adopted it, in remembrance. After a successful petition to Commonwealth for Housedom, and new access to better technologies, Ravenmoor led by the newly stationed Baron Alexander Valakov took a great war fleet, bringing to Ursarok words the same ultimatum: “Join freely, or be brought to knee” but unlike Ursarok, those that joined found freedom and welcome. Many rallied behind the Raven Flag, and marched on Ursarok's home world of Touren's Reach.
By this point, Touren's Reach was all that remained of the once great House, the other worlds having either joined, or been razed to the ground by the Ravenmoor. The Baron Ursarok could do nothing but spit hollow curses into the skyies the Ravenmoor repaid his kindness in full, launching salvo after salvo of “Terra-Nova” atomics into the planet's atmosphere. No war crime was registered as no one could, or rather, would accuse the Ravenmoor of the act. It was after the fall of Ursarok that the House Plantery Restriction Act came to be, to ensure that no one house could ever hold a true monopoly and to restrict house to house warfare.
The Ravenmoor have no set specialty on the field, save that their warriors bring an indomitable spirit, and selfless acceptance to do whatever it takes to emerge victorious.
Great House Ravenmoor Special RulesDesign note: These rules, until such a time that they are deemed otherwise, are house/homebrew rules. They have no merit in any kind of official play, but are built to add flavor to your games, and hopefully create four well accepted, and played factions to the game. Psychological WarfareThe unstopping war march, along with very in-human armor makes fighting the Ravenmoor a frightening experience at best, a horror show at worst, as no matter how grievous the wound the Domavoy won't stop fighting until their heart stops, or the battle is done. If any Ravenmoor unit passes a moral test due to an enemy attack, the attacking unit must in turn, take a moral test. If that test is failed, during it's next action, any to hit rolls are at -2 (wound rolls are unaffected).
Unkindness in the SkiesThough they have never been granted special treatment officially, the Ravenmoor Star Fleet, and Air Force have always held a distinction in the public eye as the embodiment and avatar of their Raven iconography. Any aircraft purchased has 5 points removed from it's final points total (thus, a 20 point aircraft costs only 15 points). In addition, three aircraft with the same unit cards may be grouped as a “Aerial Squadron”, a squadron must stay within 4” of each other at all times, and may combine fire on a target in the same way as infantry.
The Price of FreedomThose that give their life in the name of freedom are the greatest of heroes in the eyes of the Ravenmoor, when a Domavoy is killed on the field, his brothers in arms become more resolute and determined to achieve victory. If any unit containing multiple models, (such as an infantry squad, or Aerial Squadron) would take a wound where a model is waxed, it permanently gains +1 to it's mental stat. Example: In an eight man infantry unit, two models are waxed, the rest of the unit gets +2 to it's mental stat for the rest of the game. This boost applies to any model that is currently attached to the unit as well, such as specialists. The boost remains if the specialists leave the unit.
House Ravenmoor's Edict of War:House Ravenmoor has no restrictions of any vehicle type or strategy as they believe that victory must be ensured by any means. However, the warriors of Ravenmoor hold a strict adherence to using ballistic weaponry, in honor of those that fought in the name of freedom, though not an official policy, it has never been questioned, and the House government has gone out of it's way several times to ensure these beliefs have prospered. No Energy weapons of any kind may be used by House Ravenmoor Infantry, Mecha, or Ground Vehicles, (Units that have Wheels, Treads, Hover, or Grav). Aerial vehicles and Specialists may take beam weapons at +1 point.
Unique ItemsNever More Orbital Strike
10 points // Commander only // ONE TIME USE (2d6 roll of 7+)
SKILL 7
RANGE 72
DAMAGE 20
AP 4
AE 5The commander requests orbital support from one of the house warships using the special Never More cannon. This massive particle cannon fires an ebony stream of focused dark matter particles at a target from high orbit. This weapon, made for attacking enemy war ships from thousands of miles across the void of space, makes short work of almost anything that an enemy commander could field. However, these cannons are generally in use fighting other ships in orbit and take a long time to recharge, so a commander finds himself quite fortunate to receive one of these per battle. (Design note: You may attempt to use this as a shooting action from your commander. He must roll a 7+ on 2d6 to see if a ship happens to be able to oblige the request. If failed, he may try on his next activation. However, once a shot is fired, it cannot be done again for the rest of the game.)
E.A.P. Tatical Carbine
1 points // Infantry
RANGE 8
DAMAGE 5The E.A.P. Tatical Carbine is an extremely reliable piece of technology proving that sometimes, simplicity is the best answer. A ballistic weapon, it's proven design has shown that it can be fired underwater, packed with mud, in below freezing condition, and can be repaired on the fly. If a unit with this weapon also has the “Let them rip” special rune, the unit may fire twice if it has moved 2” or less.
Mod: Terror-Field5 points The terror shield utilizes anti-protons to help protect the unit from enemy fire. A model with a Terror-Field gets +1 Soak from all weapons types. However, if a unit with a Terror-Field should take a wound the Field shatters sending Anti-protons in the direction of the attack, blinding and suppressing the unit responsible. A unit that damages this model while the Terror-Field is active immediately becomes suppressed, and the Terror Field becomes disabled and it's bonus can no longer be applied for the remainder of the game. Models that are normally immune to suppression, such as tanks, can be suppressed by this weapon as the shield shattering momentarily blinds the crew, and temporarily disables electronics.
). I've had a lot going on in my home life. Now, the houses are done, but there is more to come! One last piece of the House system will be coming soon as I finish polishing the rules for it. Be on the look out, Knights are soon to be taking to the field.
