Twilight Shadows

"I síocháin, fuaim. I gcogadh, tost. (In peace, sound. In war, silence)"

- Chapter motto A Chapter of the 13th 'Dark' founding, the Twilight Shadows are a loyalist chapter descended from Corvus Corax. Like many other Raven Guard successors they are masters of stealth and lightning attacks which sets them at odds with many more brazen chapters such as the Black Templars.

Chapter History
"Knowledge is like money, the more you have the more powerful you are..."

- Master of Shadow Adrian Nightfall I

Founded on the Forest world Scáth, the Twilight Shadows have always been shrouded in secrecy. From their numbers to where they deploy, often none but their chapter master, or Master of Shadow, know. However they do freely reveal most of their history after a full millennium has passed to those who ask. When they were founded the first Master of Shadows Adrian Nightfall held a council, some records say it was with only his officers some say his whole chapter, on how the chapter was to be run as he decided setting precedents for the chapter to follow on the fly was reckless. What entirly went on in that council is unknown to those outside the chapter but the Marines of the Twilight Shadows often refer to it as, 'the second codex'.

The first confirmed major actions of the chapter are in M35 during the Moirae Schism during the reign of the Nova Terra Interregnum. During this time the Mechanicus underwent serious internal conflict that threatened the Imperium. In response, and in order to minimize casualties, the Twilight Shadows begin a Twilit Crusade against the major leaders of the radicals. Over the course of the Interregnum they would hound and destroy, Magos, Hereteks, and even Titans who's princeps followed the Moirae doctrine. At one point they even came to blows with the Astartes banished from the Iron Hands chapter (and their successors who later formed the Sons of Medusa chapter) who followed the doctrine though it was only brief and there were few casualties before a truce was called. However even after the Sons of Medusa were held in suspicion by the Twilight Shadows.

Scáth
The Home World of the Twilight Shadows, Scáth, is a vast Forest World, larger than Terra but with lighter gravity as it has a hollow core. The star the planet orbits is a small white star surrounded by a vast cloud of dust. The dim light that reaches Scáth means that at noon day it is scarcely brighter than twilight on Holy Terra. Despite the dimness of the light however, Scáth remains a temperate planet and has only slight variations in weather between seasons.

Lacking any oceans or mountain ranges most of the surface of the planet is covered in vast forests. Many of the trees grow to vast heights and lack any sort of bright coloration as they have to absorb as much light as possible. This leads to a strange colorless appearance on the planet as the sky varies between shades of white, gray, and black, while the brightest colors to be found among the flora and fauna are dark greens and browns. Trees range from plants scarcely taller than a man, to vast giants towering hundreds of meters, each forest on the planet being dominated by a different species, though examples of each can be found in every forest. The dark smooth wood of these trees is often traded throughout the Imperium and is commonly seen in the offices of Inquisitors and rouge traders for the exotic air of mystery it gives.

The people of Scáth are taller than the Imperial average and tend to be lanky. The language of the planet is melange of Low Gothic and the planets old native language Gallan. While towns can be found in many place across the planet, built in glens and the few open fields across the planet, the cites are carved out of the groves of Giant trees. With each tree standing on average half a kilometer tall, it is not difficult for the natives of the planet to carve out hundreds of homes and small businesses out of the trees vast trunks with those nearer to the tops being more important than those below. As a necessity for travel in such environments all natives learn how to climb with great skill, as falls from higher up can mean serious injury or death, nets are strung between the trees to act as bridges as well as catch those who slip. Given how the trees fruit are also nutritious and often supplemented with food grown or raised at the base of the trees, its said among the cities that there are those who live out their lives having never touched the ground.