The Tiger Claws were a Space Marine Chapter descended from the Astral Claws, thought lost in the Warp and later erased from Imperial records. Their story is a grim example of how the Imperium treats its forgotten sons.
Origins and early history
The Tiger Claws were a Loyalist Chapter created from the gene-seed of the Astral Claws. Their exact founding date is unknown, but they existed before M38, and some sources suggest they might have been part of the cursed founding. They were based on the world of Krodha and wore dark grey or black armour with amber markings.
Records from their early years are almost non-existent. They were just one of many Chapters, until disaster struck.
Lost in the Warp
Around 280.M40, the entire Chapter vanished into the Warp and was presumed destroyed. Over fourteen centuries later, in 680.M41, the strike cruiser Bakasurra reappeared at the edge of Segmentum Pacificus. On board were over a hundred battle-brothers who had experienced only a few months of subjective time.
The Tiger Claws quickly joined a Storm Wings strike force to fight Eldar slavers, then headed home. But Krodha was dead: their sun had expanded during their absence, turning the world into a lifeless, irradiated husk.
- M36: Alleged founding (possibly cursed founding).
- c.280.M40: Entire Chapter lost in the Warp.
- 680.M41: Bakasurra returns with 100+ battle-brothers.
- After aiding the Storm Wings, they find Krodha destroyed.
Petition and disappearance
With no home world and no Chapter left, the survivors travelled to Terra to petition for their gene-seed to be released and the Chapter rebuilt. Their de facto leader, Captain Vetala, disappeared without a trace while awaiting the petition’s hearing. The remaining Tiger Claws vanished soon after, last seen operating near their dead home world.
Some Inquisitors considered this a blessing, believing the Chapter was of the cursed founding and better left extinct.
Absorbed by the Astral Claws
The Tiger Claws were thought extinct until the Badab War, when an Astral Claws apothecary revealed he was a former Tiger Claw. Remnants had been secretly taken in by their primogenitors. The Astral Claws had also been withholding gene-seed tithes with the intention of rebuilding the Tiger Claws, though that never happened.
It’s possible that some Tiger Claws survive as members of the Red Corsairs, the renegade warband formed from the Astral Claws after the Badab War.
Key facts
- The Tiger Claws were a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter from the Astral Claws gene-seed.
- They were lost in the Warp for over 1400 years and returned in 680.M41.
- Their home world, Krodha, was destroyed by its expanding sun during their absence.
- Their petition to rebuild was dismissed after their leader, Captain Vetala, disappeared.
- Remnants of the Chapter were secretly absorbed by the Astral Claws.
- Some may have become Red Corsairs after the Badab War.
FAQ
Who are the Tiger Claws?
They were a Space Marine Chapter descended from the Astral Claws, lost in the Warp and later absorbed back into their parent Chapter.
What happened to the Tiger Claws?
After returning from the Warp, they found their home world destroyed. Their petition to rebuild was denied, their leader vanished, and the survivors disappeared. Later, remnants were found among the Astral Claws.
Are the Tiger Claws connected to the Red Corsairs?
Yes, it’s possible that some Tiger Claws became part of the Red Corsairs, since the Red Corsairs were formed from the Astral Claws after the Badab War.