The Charcharodons Astra, better known as the Space Sharks, are a loyalist Space Marine chapter with a reputation for extreme brutality. They roam the void beyond the Imperium’s borders, hunting the enemies of mankind in near-total obscurity.
Who they are
The Charcharodons Astra (Low Gothic: Space Sharks) are a fleet-based chapter of unknown founding. They first came to the Imperium’s attention during the Badab War, where their savagery against the Secessionists earned them a dark legend.
Their history is fragmentary. Records suggest they existed as early as late M32, during the Astropath Wars, but their origins are wrapped in myth and allegory.
- Chapter Master: Tyberos the Red Wake, titled the Shade Lord
- Homeworld: fleet-based; officially Ootheca since 912.M41
- Colours: dark grey with black shoulder inset
- Specialty: assault and close combat
Origins and the Day of Exile
Chapter lore speaks of a ‘Day of Exile’, when the Wandering Ancestors were banished from their homeworld and sent beyond the galaxy’s edge by a figure called the Forgotten One. They were charged with a sacred duty to patrol the empty spaces outside the Imperium forever, destroying mankind’s enemies.
Most evidence points to Raven Guard ancestry. The Charcharodons use ancient Raven Guard titles: their Chapter Master is called the Shade Lord, a title used by exiled Raven Guard commander Arkhas Fal, and their Chief Librarian is the Pale Nomad, a name from the Raven Guard’s 11th Chapter.
- Alleged founding chapter: Raven Guard, possibly chimeric
- The Forgotten One and the Void Father are held in great reverence
- The renegade Ashen Claws, also of Raven Guard descent, call the Charcharodons ‘mongrels’ and ‘traitor-born’, hinting at mixed gene-seed
The Badab War and after
The Charcharodons made their name during the Badab War, fighting alongside the Imperium against the Astral Claws and their allies. Their methods were so ruthless that other chapters viewed them with unease.
In the Dark Imperium era, the chapter continues its lonely vigil, still fleet-based and still feared. They remain a loyalist chapter, but one whose brutality sets them apart.
- Notable battles: Badab War, Seventh Black Crusade
- Reputation: ruthless and brutal, even by Space Marine standards
Recruitment and gene-seed
Recruitment practices are unclear, but the chapter likely draws aspirants from worlds they encounter on their travels. Their gene-seed is suspected to be chimeric, mixing Raven Guard with another, unknown lineage.
This mixed heritage would explain the Ashen Claws’ refusal to acknowledge them as full kin, and the chapter’s own ignorance of their true origins.
- Gene-seed: possibly chimeric, Raven Guard and unknown
- Recruitment: likely from worlds encountered during fleet travels
Key facts
- The Charcharodons Astra are a loyalist Space Marine chapter known as the Space Sharks.
- They’re fleet-based, with no fixed homeworld until Ootheca was granted in 912.M41.
- Their Chapter Master is Tyberos the Red Wake, called the Shade Lord.
- They specialize in assault and close combat, and are notorious for their brutality.
- They first gained wide attention during the Badab War.
- Their origins are likely Raven Guard, but their gene-seed may be chimeric.
FAQ
Are the Charcharodons Astra loyalists?
Yes, they’re a loyalist Space Marine chapter. Their brutality and mysterious origins make them feared, but they’ve never turned from the Imperium.
Who is their primarch?
They’re believed to descend from the Raven Guard, so Corvus Corax is the likely primarch, but their gene-seed may be chimeric, meaning another lineage could be involved.
What does ‘Charcharodon Astra’ mean?
It translates to ‘Space Sharks’ in Low Gothic, which is why they’re commonly called the Space Sharks or Carcharodons.