Dawn of War Main Character Index
Blood Ravens | Retribution | Multiplayer Characters | Dawn of War III

This character sheet includes the major characters of the fabled Blood Ravens Chapter, as introduced in the Dawn of War franchise.

Note: Being one of the most decorated Astartes Chapters in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, some of the tropes related to their own races will also apply to them. As such, this sheet will contain some unmarked spoilers for earlier installments.

For other Imperium characters introduced in the first two Dawn of War games, refer to this separate character page.

For characters who appear exclusively in Retribution, click here. For characters as they appear in the multiplayer mode of Dawn of War II, click here.

For characters appearing in Dawn of War III, click here.

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Characters introduced in the first Dawn of War series:

Chapter Master Gabriel Angelos

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Gabriel_Angelos_DoW2_7002.jpg

"In this dark place, in this dark hour, we will stand against the enemies of the Emperor. And they shall know that not even here, on this desecrated, infernal rock, will we suffer the existence of the heretic."
Voiced By: Paul Dobson (Dawn of War, Chaos Rising and Retribution)/Brian Dobson (Dawn of War II) / Alec Newman (Dawn of War III)

One of the major characters throughout the whole series, Gabriel Angelos is the esteemed commander of the Blood Ravens 3rd Company, which played a vital role in the defense of Tartarus. With the aid of Inquisitor Mordecai Toth, he defeated the Sorceror-turned Daemon Prince Sindri. Despite his victory, Angelos inadvertently released a powerful daemon of Khorne from the Maledictum, an act which he has long sought to correct.

Like many of the Blood Ravens, Gabriel was born on the planet of Cyrene, from whence the Chapter often drew recruits. Gabriel was an accomplished leader of his peers before he even entered his teen years, and passed the Blood Trials set by the Blood Raven Chaplains through working in tandem with fellow initiate Isador Akios.

Gabriel was also responsible for calling forth an Exterminatus upon Cyrene, after he became convinced of the taint of Chaos that nestled itself amongst the population. While he has not regretted his decision to call forth the Inquisition, he has always regretted that he did not see the rot before it spread.

Gabriel is amongst the greatest heroes of the Chapter and held as the crowning example of the glory of the Blood Ravens' past. During the events of Chaos Rising, he and the Force Commander uncovered the taint of evil within their own Chapter and defeated the Black Legion under Lord Eliphas the Inheritor. Gabriel was branded a renegade for the temerity of standing against the traitors. Now, he gathers his forces for the final climactic showdown with Azariah Kyras, who has thrown in his lot with the very same daemon Gabriel released decades ago

Anti-Hero: Is quite firmly a Unscrupulous Hero, like most protagonists in this universe. He called for the annihilation of his homeworld without hesitation, although he came to regret it afterwards. Values Dissonance is a bit in play here; by and large the Imperium doesn't consider purging a "corrupted" world to be morally questionable.
Arrested for Heroism: Well, not arrested per se, but being declared as a traitor and renegade to your Chapter for disobeying orders to abandon your recruiting worlds is not that far off.
The Atoner: For the Exterminatus of Cyrene, and later, the releasing of the daemon in the Maledictum.
Authority Equals Asskicking: By the Golden Throne of Terra, YES.
Awesome Moment of Crowning: In the ending of the Space Marine campaign in Retribution he becomes the new Chapter Master of the Blood Ravens.
Badass Boast: At the end of his monologue in the final mission of Retribution, Gabriel describes himself rather modestly;
Gabriel: Such is the final testimony of Gabriel Angelos. Captain of the Blood Ravens 3rd Company. Savior of Tartarus. Bane of the Black Legion. Servant of the Emperor.
Badass Cape: Has one attached at the back of his armor, as Captain of the 3rd Company. He still has one attached to his Tacitus-pattern Terminator Armor as Chapter Master in Dawn of War III.
Big Good: Served as one in Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising, considering that the main focus of both games were on the playable Force Commander.
Bling of War: As Space Marine Captain, he gets to wear quite a lot of bling. He gets even more bling when he becomes Chapter Master. His outfit in Dawn of War III is a very bling-heavy set of Tacitus-pattern Terminator Armor.
Blood-Splattered Warrior: Sports a few mild splatters in the Retribution opening cinematic, considering that it briefly portrayed the final moments of the Third Aurelian Crusade, and Angelos may have had those after smashing daemons and heretics.
Canon: His presence in Dawn of War III with him in Chapter Master outfit as of the last scene in Retribution, this pretty much confirms that the Space Marine campaign is canon, or at least part of it.
The Captain: Of the Blood Ravens 3rd Company, up until the end of Retribution.
Church Militant: Goes with being an Imperial Soldier.
Cool Starship: Prior to Dawn of War III, he was in command of the Third Company Battle Barge, the Litany of Fury. With his ascension to the rank of Chapter Master, the presumption is that he is now in command of the Chapter's flagship, the Omnis Arcanum (Though this is still disputed, since III featured a different Battle Barge under his command, the Dauntless.)
Cool Sword: Had a Power Sword before taking up his iconic hammer.
Crutch Character: When you get him in the final level of Dawn of War II's campaign, he can grant invulnerability to multiple units. By this point though, you're unlikely to need it.
Cyborg: After being struck down by Kyras, should you complete the Space Marine campaign, his coronation as Chapter Master will have him almost completely rebuilt with cybernetic implants.
Dented Iron: Dawn of War III shows him after the brutality he endured in Retribution, having had obvious extensive cybernetic reconstruction and missing one eye.
The Determinator: Even above normal Space Marines. It takes a lot to remain pure and faithful when your best friend, half of your chapter, and even your Chapter Master have turned to Chaos right in front of you.
Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Did you just send a Daemon Prince screaming back to the Warp?
Dying Moment of Awesome: In a non-Space Marine route of Retribution, he will die but he'll go out swinging. Swarmed by daemons, he battles them all alone in a last ditch effort to redeem his chapter before being crushed by Kyras.
Eye Scream: After an ascended Kyras beat him into the ground he took a lot of damage from that attack; suffice to say that losing his right eye was probably the least damage he took.
A Father to His Men: He seems to value his brothers' lives if his outburst towards Inquisitor Toth is any indication.
Gabriel: You lied to me and cost me men!
Toth: Better they die, their blood pure! If you feel warranted in handing out recriminations, then their deaths are on your head! I warned you to leave this world, to leave Tartarus for the warp storm.
Gabriel: Your words still ring untrue, Inquisitor. I know you were here before we arrived.
The Fettered: In Retribution, Gabriel cannot directly take the fight to Kyras without shedding the blood of fellow Blood Ravens (though how many of them are actually loyal and simply doing their duty is difficult to determine), which is a cardinal sin to most Space Marines. As such, he is left with no other alternative to report Kyras' actions to the Imperial Inquisition. When Kyras threw his lot completely with the Daemon of the Maledictum and attempted to ascend to Daemonhood however, Gabriel immediately led the Third Company against him on Cyrene
The Good Captain: He's not only a great warrior, but like other 'nice' Space Marine chapters he makes the extra effort of rescuing civilians and other Imperial forces from certain death if possible.
Good Is Not Nice: Standard for "heroes" in Warhammer 40,000. Gabriel will kill you brutally if he has a good reason for it, but that's about as good as you can get here.
The Hero: Served as one in Dawn of War, in command of the Third Company during the Battle of Tartarus. Has seceded this role in later games to Brother-Captains Thule (Dark Crusade), Boreale (Soulstorm, to disastrous results), the unnamed Force Commander (Dawn of War II and the Chaos Rising expansion), and Diomedes (Retribution). Returns to this status in Dawn of War III.
Heroic Willpower: He can defy the whispers of daemon princes.
Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Isador Akios, up until his betrayal on Tartarus.
Honor Before Reason: Angelos will settle the matter adhering to the Commandments of the God-Emperor, regardless of what happens.
Humble Hero: According to Cyrus. After being told that the battlefield where the Tyranid Hive Fleet was defeated is being called "Gabriel's Miracle", Cyrus states that credit should go to the Emperor and that Angelos himself would be the first to agree.
I Did What I Had to Do: Calling down Exterminatus on Cyrene, his own homeworld.
In-Series Nickname: Called "Gabriel of the Hidden Heart" by the Harlequins of Arcadia in the Dawn of War novels. Of course, Gabriel thinks lowly of this, as would any zealous warrior of the Emperor.
Kick the Morality Pet: The Exterminatus of Cyrene perhaps counts. If you were less than fully righteous in your triumph over the Black Legion, he sends you and your squads on a Crusade of Absolution to the Eye of Terror without support for a hundred years to get your honour back, which will likely cost you your life.
Knight in Sour Armor: About as close to a hero as you can get from this setting.
Knight Templar: Without a second thought, this man called down the complete and utter destruction of his own homeworld when he was convinced that the people had abandoned the Emperor. The only thing he regrets is that he didn't root out the cultists sooner and harder. On the other hand, he now regards it as a failure on his part, and was afraid he would bring it upon Tartarus in kind. He also seems to be aware of this in Retribution and sort-of acknowledges it's a flaw.
Large Ham: Has his moments, especially in Retribution:
Gabriel: SUCH ARE THE WAYS OF DAEMONS, TO LIE AND MISLEAD US! DESTROYING IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID ITS INFLUENCES!
Lightning Bruiser: Wears a huge and bulky suit of Terminator Armor in III, but is able to pull off impressive jumps, apparently due to the power of his Daemonhammer, Godsplitter.
Literary Allusion Title: Well, name, but still. Named after God's Right Hand, the Archangel Gabriel.
Made of Iron: Crushed by a blow from a Daemon Prince and still manages to survive.
Make an Example of Them: After executing Isador for betraying the Blood Ravens and falling to the temptations of Chaos, Gabriel delivers a warning to a squad of Marines arriving at the scene that he will do the same thing to any of them that stray from the Imperium of Man.
Mangst: He genuinely mourns Cyrene, his homeworld. Not that it was destroyed, but rather that he couldn't do more to stop the taint of Heresy. In true 40K fashion, however, he does not allow it to distract him from giving the God-Emperor's enemies a righteous ass-kicking.
Meaningful Name: Gabriel Angelos, The Emperor's Angel of Death.
My Greatest Failure: Has regarded the Exterminatus of Cyrene, and Isador's fall to Chaos on Tartarus as such.
Gabriel: How could I have not seen this? Why is it I am blind when it matters the most?!
Isador: Are you referring to these traitorous guardsmen, or the destruction of your homeworld — Cyrene?
Gabriel: I should have seen the rot before it spread. Instead I was blind for far too long. I put my own world to the torch, I killed with the Inquisition's eager sanction and watched too many innocents die in a holy fire storm! And yet, here I am again at yet another door step... with the executioner's blade in my very hand.
Narrator: He's the narrator for each of the opening mission logs in Dawn of War, each of the opening cutscenes in Dawn of War II, and the entire Tyranid campaign in Retribution. But the last one's because the Tyranids don't really have characters capable of giving exposition in the missions themselves as the other campaigns do.
Necessarily Evil: Standard for the Imperium, but he at least regrets the evil part.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Though things were already set upon a hard road thanks to Ulkair, it is reasonable to assume that road would have been easier had Gabriel heeded Macha and not destroyed the Maledictum.
Older Than They Look: Looks to be in his sixties, really in his three-hundreds.
Old Soldier: Gabriel is a 300+-year-old Space Marine captain who has, among other things, single handedly banished a Daemon Prince back to the warp.
One-Man Army: In the tutorial mission for Retribution, he and Jonah Orion fight through dozens of Chaos Cultists and Chaos Space Marines who are defending Azariah Kyras, since the tutorial is basically the final mission from Gabe's perspective.
Only Mostly Dead: In the Space Marine ending of Retribution, he survives the mother of all pile drivers from Kyras and is saved via bionic replacements. He goes on to become the new Chapter Master.
The Paragon: Pure and noble even in the face of extreme heresy.
Perma-Stubble: He has this as of Dawn of War II.
Really 700 Years Old: Definitely over 300, judging by the number of service studs he has (each stud is awarded for one century of combat).
Real Men Love Jesus: Like all Space Marines, Gabriel is a faithful and devoted servant of the God-Emperor of Man.
Reasonable Authority Figure: From Dawn of War II onwards.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Blue to Isador Akios's red. Interestingly, Akios' and Angelos' colors are actually in reverse, thanks to the former being a Librarian.
Isador: I do not care for all this sneaking about.
Gabriel: I know old friend. You've always favoured the direct approach.
Self-Made Orphan: According to the books his own father was one of the leaders behind the Heresy on Cyrene, although this probably isn't canon.
Shoulders of Doom: With giant golden eagles stuck on 'em! See Bling of War above.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: Two epic ones to Isador and Kyras. See Large Ham for the latter, for the former:
Gabriel: I betrayed NO ONE! Innocents die so that Humanity may live, I ended their suffering, as I will end yours!
Supporting Leader: He's this from Dawn of War II onwards.
Sword and Gun: Wields a Power Sword and Bolt Pistol in Dawn of War. He throws away the Bolt Pistol after Isador's execution, and replaces the sword with "God-Splitter". The pistol later becomes a wargear drop in Dawn of War II, aptly named "Left Hand of Gabriel".
Sword of Plot Advancement: The Daemonhammer Mordecai Toth gifted to him at the climax of the Tartarus campaign proved to be integral in overcoming Sindri Myr, who had ascended to daemonhood through the powers of the Maledictum Daemon. Fitting, as God-Splitter was always intended by the Inquisition to destroy the Daemon of the Maledictum.
Tranquil Fury: After Isador's betrayal Gabriel keeps his cool surprisingly well... in conversation at least. His actions, however, say something different.
Toth: ...And the good Captain?
Sergeant: I would call him 'Starved for Vengeance', but my words are inadequate to encompass his fury.
[both watch as Gabriel annihilates a Chaos force with an orbital strike]
Gabriel: Make ready. We have wasted enough time, and suffered for it.
Warrior Monk: Comes with being a Space Marine.
We Can Rebuild Him: After the events of Retribution, he is canonically given extensive bionic augmentations to restore him to battle-readiness.
Where I Was Born and Razed: His own homeworld of Cyrene, to which he ordered Exterminatus on.

Brother-Librarian Isador Akios

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Isador_7487.png

"Through the destruction of our enemies do we earn our salvation."
Voiced by: Mark Oliver

The 3rd Company Librarian in Dawn of War, and Captain Angelos' friend and confidante, having gone through the Blood Trials together during induction into the Chapter.

Badass Boast: I am stronger than you ever imagined. I can feel the universe tremble at my approach! Even the GODS know my name!

Evil Is Not a Toy: His folly is believing that Chaos can be used to destroy the enemies of the Imperium, not realizing that Chaos would bring ruin to those that make contact with it.
Isador: "But Gabriel, there is much to learn from here. We should not be too eager to -
Gabriel: "Learn what? Chaos does not teach, it misleads and it betrays. There is nothing to learn here save for our next course."
Face–Heel Turn: Through Sindri's manipulation, Isador fell to Chaos.
Killed Off for Real: After he was defeated by Gabriel, he begged for redemption in which Angelos agreed with a bolter.
The Lancer: Is Gabriel Angelos' closest friend and second-in-command. Before the whole being turned to Chaos thing.
Magic Knight: Pretty good at melee. Strong enough to annihilate an on-rushing Ork Nob without using his psyker powers and capable of standing up to Gabriel in melee.
Psychic Powers: Well being a librarian gives you a good set of these.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: He tries to give one to Gabriel after turning to Chaos. Gabriel has none of it.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red to Gabriel's blue. What makes this more interesting is that Isidor is a librarian, librarians almost usually color their armor blue to easier distinguish them (besides their obvious psychic hoods). So his and Angelos' colors are actually in reverse.
Isador: I do not care for all this sneaking about.
Gabriel: I know old friend. You've always favoured the direct approach.
Redemption Equals Death: Redemption by Gabriel's bolter.
Warrior Monk: Basically.

Brother-Captain Davian Thule

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Davian_Thule_DC_1367.png

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Davian_Thule_DoW2_342.jpg

"I am Davian Thule. And I shall be your death, alien."
Voiced by: Scott McNeil (Dark Crusade)/Fred Tatasciore (Dawn of War II, Chaos Rising and Retribution)

Captain Davian Thule is the leader of the Blood Ravens 4th Company, from which the Force Commander and his sergeants hail from. Like Gabriel, he is notable as one of the greatest living heroes of the Blood Ravens having began his rise to glory after slaying the Chaos Witch Morgana whilst a mere initiate. He was also a famed Devastator Marine before he became a Captain.

Prior to the Kronus campaign, he was sent to the fortress world of Cadia, which had come under attack from the Iron Warriors Chaos Legion. His forces defeated the traitor marines, but the Black Legion was en route to reinforce them. Ready to oppose the traitors, he was commanded to withdraw by Chapter Master Azariah Kyras himself. At first he refused but was forced to do so on pain of excommunication. He withdrew, but the Imperial forces managed to drive back the Chaos Legions anyway, though at a terrible cost.

He then fought the Kronus campaign and clashed with the Dark Apostle Eliphas the Inheritor. After a brutal battle, Thule and his warriors defeated the Chaos Space Marines. Thule then uncovered artifacts of the Chapter which revealed a truth... one so terrible that he ordered them destroyed. Thule also fought and defeated an Imperial Guard regiment, the 1st Kronus Liberators led by Governor-General Lukas Alexander, a decision which haunted him ever since. His refusal to vilify the guardsmen eventually led to a falling out with Chapter Command and he was assigned to custodianship over the Chapter's recruiting worlds in subsector Aurelia.

During the Tyranid invasion, he was wounded and returned as a mighty Dreadnought. He also fought in the events of Chaos Rising. He is slain by Eliphas the Inheritor during the Chaos campaign of Retribution, however, it is not known whether this is canon.

Back for the Dead: In Dawn of War II, he was taken out by a Tyranid Warrior early on. He comes back as a Dreadnought. Again in Retribution, as the first boss of the Chaos campaign, and he doesn't come back this time.
Badass Boast: I FEAR NO EVIL FOR I AM FEAR INCARNATE!!
BFG: Wields a few in Dawn of War II onwards including after being interred in a Dreadnought, should you choose to equip him with one.
Big Good: In Dawn of War II until he is mortally wounded by a Tyranid Warrior. Played straight when he permanently leaves your party if your squads are too corrupted in Chaos Rising.
Bling of War: Has some pretty fancy armor, as befits a Space Marine Captain, until he gets interred in a Dreadnought. He gets the bling back once he's become a Venerable Dreadnought.
Bring It: His reply to Gorgutz saying he'd mount his head his "pointy stick". "You'll meet my bolter first, filth." Gorgutz was amused.
The Captain: He's this for the Space Marine campaign of Dark Crusade. By Dawn of War II, he moves in to the Big Good role for the first few missions, until he was critically wounded from a Tyranid attack.
Continuity Nod: He got his bionic eye after he was injured fighting the Necron Lord in Dark Crusade.
Cool Starship: Operates from the Litany of Fury in Dark Crusade.
Cool Sword:
- Can wield one called Alexian's Blade in Dark Crusade. The same sword later shows up in Dawn of War II as a wargear drop.
- In the Dawn of War novels, it was reveald that prior to the Tyranid attacks on Subsector Aurelia, he wielded a Power Sword called "Wisdom," revered as one of the Chapter's holiest relics.
Cybernetics Eat Your Soul: In Dawn of War II, by way of internment into a Dreadnought. He gets better in Chaos Rising, though he still speaks slowly.
A Father to His Men: Davian was incredibly protective of his fellow brothers, always fighting with them on the lines and genuinely caring for their safety. Very few Blood Raven lives were ever lost under his command. However, when accused by Kais of having no regard for casualties, Thule simply responds that getting emotional over men lost is a sign of weakness.
Foe-Tossing Charge: As a Dreadnought he can get this skill. If you upgrade it enough, Thule can instantly kill mooks by trampling them in his charge.
Gatling Good: His Assault Cannon can rip almost anything to shreds, even vehicles.
Good Thing You Can Heal: He's very powerful as a Dreadnought, however it is rather worrisome using him as he only recovers health if someone uses a repair kit on him. Not only does a kit have only 3 uses, it also takes up valuable storage space. This becomes much less of a worry, once you get him self-repair technology. Self-repair can bring Thule back from almost dying to full health in only a few seconds and there's only a short cool-down time. More advanced self-repair ability lets Thule turn into an even more heavily armored turret cannon while he's healing.
Hand Cannon: In "Dark Crusade", your final ranged upgrade is a Meltagun, what makes this much more impressive is he is using the standard Meltagun even though Pistol Variations do exist. (Granted they pretty rare and mostly belong to either the Blood Angels Chapter or forces who work for The Inquisition, but knowing their reputation for "borrowing", It's surprising they don't have one.)
The Good Captain: From Dark Crusade to the first quarter of Dawn of War II.
Humongous Mecha: As a 'nought
Incorruptible Pure Pureness: In Chaos Rising, Davian Thule is the only squad member who never gains corruption.
Large Ham: In Dark Crusade. He's more restrained in II.
Man in the Machine: A very, very badass man in a Dreadnought sarcophagus.
Morality Pet: In Chaos Rising, if the Force Commander starts becoming corrupted than Davian Thule warns him to step back from the madness. It's up to the player whether or not the Force Commander listens.
The Men First: He adheres to this method of thinking, as shown when the Blood Ravens on Calderis face an unexpected and rather large Tyranid attack, his orders are for all Blood Ravens not under attack to withdraw.
The Mentor: Is something akin to this towards the Force Commander in the early missions of Dawn of War II, until he got ambushed and poisoned by a Tyranid Hive Tyrant.
Old Soldier: He is at least 200 years old, as shown by his two service studs.
One-Man Army: After becoming a Dreadnought in II, he's widely regarded as the most powerful character next to Cyrus. His Assault Cannon Barrage and Mighty Strike can lay waste to entire armies. He can hold most bosses in melee except the absolute strongest. In Chaos Rising, he can use a multi-melta, giving him a Melta Sweep attack that can bring down most bosses easily, except Ulkair.
Simple, yet Awesome: In II, he's this once he's able to repair himself and use a heavy gun. The combination of heavy armor, lots of HP, regeneration and ungodly amounts of HP make him one of the strongest individual characters in the game when it comes to sheer power, short of an optimized Force Commander.
Teleporters and Transporters: Gets a Teleport Pack in Dark Crusade.

What Happened to the Mouse?: There was no mention of Thule's fate after the Aurelian Crusades, as he did not appear at all during the Acheron Campaign. However, later records revealed that he was with the 4th Company at the defense of Cadia during Abbadon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade.
What the Hell, Hero?: When he besieges Lukas Alexander's headquarter at Victory Bay in Dark Crusade, Alexander accuses him and the Blood Ravens of madness for attacking their own Imperial subjects.
Lukas Alexander: "These Space Marines are gripped with madness, men! They fight against the Emperor's holy will!"
Davian Thule: "I will not be called a traitor, general!"
Lukas Alexander: "You haven't silenced me yet, Blood Ravens."

Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Indrick_Boreale_4807.jpg

"WE ARE THE SPESS MEHREENS! WE ARE THE EMPRAH'S FURY!!"
Voiced by: Scott McNeil (gameplay quotes recycled from Thule)

The commander of the five Blood Raven Companies deployed for the Kaurava campaign in Soulstorm, and infamous for his accent and lines. Also the most famous (and only known) user of the Steel Rain strategy.

Added Alliterative Appeal: A part of his infamous speech in the Space Marine stronghold mission in Soulstorm:
Boreale: We have placed numerous beacons, allowing for multiple, simultaneous, and devastating defensive deep strikes.
As You Know: Makes a speech about the troop deployment and Codex Astartes tactics which the Space Marines should have known already.
Bling of War: As expected of the Blood Raven's Captain he starts off with more bling than Davian Thule most notably.
Carry a Big Stick: One of his Melee Upgrades is "Rogal's Fist", legends say that said Primarch himself made the mace himself to lay waste to the foes who stand before it. How it ended up in The Blood Raven's hands instead of the Imperial Fists is a mystery, but considering the chapter's nature it probably didn't end up in their hands as a willing gift, and then considering he died it's unknown what happened to it.
Chainsaw Good: Carries an Eviscerator-like model Chainsword as a starting weapon.
Clear Their Name: Had he won, Boreale's victory would have dispelled rumors of heresy that have been following the Blood Ravens since the Kronus Campaign. Subverted because the Blood Raven Chapter Master actually is a Heretic and Traitor, and Boreale's victory might have wrongly drawn suspicion away from him.
Cold Sniper: At one point when he was a scout marine, he remained unmoving for days in sub-zero temperatures for the opportunity to successfully take out a traitourous adept with the 'Cold Mercy.'
Due to the Dead: Had he won, the Sisters of Battle he was forced to kill would have been buried in their own cemetery with a statue of the Canoness in the center; while the survivors are treated with respect, given medical assistance, and then granted safe passage back to their Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII where they are to be held at the mercy of the Inquisition. This is more respect than the other Imperial Factions show the dead from their rivals ^note.
Egopolis: Had he triumphed in Kaurava, he would have apparently named the newly constructed Fortress Monastery there "Borealum".
Epic Fail: He had about five Chapter companies under his command at Kaurava, and somehow still lost with almost all of his battle brothers getting killed and himself in the process. Kyras probably wanted that to happen.
A Father to His Men: When attacking the Dark Eldar Base, Boreale openly praises his men for their resolve when the first group of Space Marine prisoners he frees is immediately ready to fight. After the mission it is stated that the Space Marines prisoners who were tortured or mutilated too much to continue fighting were received with understanding by their Battle Brothers and were immediately sent out for medical treatment.
Fighting for a Homeland: Had he won the Blood Ravens would have ceased their nomadic activities and turned Kaurava II into their homeworld (see Egopolis above). As soon as he landed on the planet, he noted that the people in the Land of Solitude were hardy and that the region would make a good source of recruits.
Funetik Aksent: It is customary to represent his bizarre accent with equally bizarre spelling.
General Failure: Despite having been quite an excellent Scout Marine, and having studied under Captain Angelos himself, Boreale's mismanagement of the Kaurava campaign resulted in the loss of a third of the entire chapter including himself, and his very name seems to have become taboo for certain Blood Ravens.
- Four-Star Badass: If you play as him, he shows far more competency and badassery, although this is at least in part the player's doing.
It's Raining Men: Is a firm believer of the "Steel Rain" Strategy which allows him to send troops prematurely in maps alongside his Honor Guard.
As you know, most of our battle-brothers are stationed in spess, prepared to deep strike! [...] We will descend upon the foe, we will overwhelm them, we will leave none alive!
Killed Off for Real: Confirmed by the events of Dawn of War II.
Large Ham: Prone to loud yelling, to the point of ridiculousness.
Metaphorgotten: "If we die this day, we die in glory. We die heroes' deaths... but we shall not die."
The Peter Principle: Boreale's career is a stellar example of this trope in action. He showed amazing promise as a Scout, just as much promise during his time as a squad Sergeant... and then he was promoted to Force Commander, where he canonically couldn't live up to the role to disastrous results for the Blood Ravens.
Sword and Gun: Starts off with a standard issue ChainSword and Bolt Pistol, but later on can get a mace, plasma pistol, Daemon Hammer and Melta Gun.
Teleporters and Transporters: It's one of the many Wargear you can equip him with in Soulstorm.
Uriah Gambit: It is implied in later games that his loss wasn't just a tragic accident and that Kyras set the young captain up for failure by giving him a mission that he was too inexperienced to handle thus killing loyal Marines and weakening the chapter for Kyras' eventual betrayal.
What the Hell Is That Accent?: He sounds like a slightly more coherent Tommy Wiseau. Slightly.

Characters introduced in Dawn of War II

The Force Commander

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Force_Commander_DoW2_9628.png

Incoherent yell (singleplayer)/"I am death. I am fearless. I AM INVINCIBLE!!" (multiplayer)
Voiced by: Brian Dobson (multiplayer)

The main character of Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising. He was never given a name in the games, though he is referred to as Aramus in the novelization. One of the youngest Force Commanders in the Chapter's history, he was promoted for a great victory in the Hadrian campaign, where he silenced enemy artillery deep within the mountains without losing a single squad member, before the events of the games. Was promoted by the Chapter Master over the protests of other high ranking Blood Ravens, despite never having met him in person. Does not speak, except in multiplayer.

Asskicking Leads to Leadership: While certainly true in the campaign, his initial promotion to Force Commander is hinted at as a plot by Kyras to put an inexperienced commander in charge of the Blood Ravens. His initial victory in the Hadrian campaign occurred after Kyras confirmed his promotion—said promotion just didn't go into effect until after the battle was won.
Ambiguous Situation: It's not certain what happened to him after Chaos Rising.
The Atoner: If the Force Commander has less than 12 Corruption by the end of Chaos Rising, then Gabriel Angelos banishes him and his Strike Force to The Warp to fight against the forces of Chaos for 100 years. If they're still alive after that, then they'll be deemed to be absolved of their sins and permitted to rejoin the Blood Ravens.
BFG: Can wield these if you invest in his Ranged discipline tree, and the Assault Cannon he can wield regardless of his specialization while in Terminator Armor.
Bling of War: Early on, not so much. With high level armor though, he's got more bling than anyone else on the strike force.
Chainsaw Good: He can use Chainswords and they are his default melee weapon.
Commanding Coolness: With extra Force!
Cool Starship: He operated from two Strike Cruisers, the Armageddon in Dawn of War II and the Retribution in Chaos Rising—the former having been rendered inoperable due to explosion-related issues.
Death Equals Redemption: Averted. If the Force Commander has more than 12 Corruption but less than 24 by the end of Chaos Rising, Gabriel Angelos executes him with a hammer swing. The last thing Angelos tells the Force Commander is that there can be no absolution for his sins.
Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Punching out Eliphas and Ulkair probably counts.
Everybody Calls Him "Barkeep": He's only ever referred to as Commander in-game. The novels avert this.
Face–Heel Turn: If the Force Commander has amassed at least 24 Corruption points by the end of Chaos Rising, he and his Strike Force flees into the Warp and joins the Black Legion.
Foe-Tossing Charge: His base ability, "To Victory".
Gatling Good: A ranged Force Commander is ludicrous with a Terminator assault cannon. With Battle Cry active, he has an ultra high chance to instantly explode any infantry class unit. This essentially gives you another Cyrus. With the right damage bonuses, he can saw buildings in half solo.
The Hero: Since he is the Player Character.
Heroic Mime: As the loading screen for the first mission says, he is a man of few words.
Incorruptible Pure Pureness: If Martellus turns out to be the Traitor, and no squad has more than 2 Corruption, than the Force Commander is tasked with cleansing the Chapter and helps Diomedes with this task. Additionally, if The Commander and the majority of his men are pure by the end, the Commander stands side by side by Angelos as they prepare for the final battle against Kyras.
Jack of All Trades: It's down to the player to decide what kind of fighter he becomes. Like Tarkus, he can be built as a ranged or melee fighter, and either invest in his Stamina tree to become a tank or his Energy tree to become a better support commander. He also the broadest selection of available equipment among your playable squads, and is one of two characters capable of using Terminator armour from the start.
Jet Pack: Can be equipped with Jump Packs and starts with one in Chaos Rising, giving him the 'Assault Jump' ability.
Made of Iron: With the proper wargear, he can take more punishment than even the Dreadnought, and is still a close second without them.
Multi-Melee Master: He can use any of the melee weapons in the game.
No Name Given: He does have the name Aramus in the novels, but they had many conflicts with the games' canon and were finally relegated to Canon Discontinuity when a piece of wargear that belonged to him showed up in Retribution referred to as "The Hammer of the Nameless".
One Riot, One Ranger: He's the only reinforcement sent to subsector Aurelia. It's more than enough.
Narration: Such is your reputation, the Chapter expects that you alone will be enough to tip the balance of the fight and save Calderis.
Sword and Gun: Starts out with a Chainsword and Bolt Pistol.
Teleporters and Transporters: One of his Commander Items is a Teleport Pack, and he can also get variants for Terminator Armor.
Warrior Monk: A point which his lack of dialogue supports.
What the Hell, Hero?:
- If the team's corruption level is high enough by the time you reach the final mission in Chaos Rising, Gabriel will contact the Commander to express his disappointment towards him and, by extension, you for toying with the corrupting power of Chaos and leading his men towards heresy. The only reason he hasn't punished the Commander yet is because there are bigger fish to fry, and the Execution ending shows that he makes good on his promise to punish the Commander.
  Gabriel Angelos: "Commander, I'm not surprised to find you here, at the heart of madness. I've heard of your dark deeds since last we met. I once considered you and your brothers shining examples of the chapter's greatness. Now, you embody the madness and corruption among us. There will come an accounting for Kyras — but his madness does not excuse your own. You commanded this strike force, and your actions have sent it into darkness. You will answer for that as well. I know Eliphas and his forces are here, Commander. The threat he poses is the only reason your accounting will have to wait. Diomedes and Kyras may have branded my brothers and I as renegades, but we are still Blood Ravens. We will break the Black Legion hold on Aurelia. I am transferring details to your planetary display. Do not stand in our way, Commander. Angelos out."
- Davian Thule calls you out in Chaos Rising should you be Slowly Slipping Into Evil.
  Davian Thule: "Commander... you must step back from madness... Do not... make yourself into... my... enemy."

Tactical Sergeant Tarkus

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Tarkus_6423.png

"I stand with my brothers, Eldar witch!"
Voiced by: Ian Gregory

Tarkus is the venerable sergeant of the strike force's tactical marine squad. A veteran of centuries of campaigning, Tarkus is a rock solid second-in-command. A loyal adviser, superb tactician and fearsome warrior. Tarkus served with distinction during the Kronus campaign.

When Davian Thule and his troops collapsed the Necron tombs under the Thur'Abis Plateau, he stayed back to guard the captain's retreat. While doing so, he met a Necron Tomb Spyder in single combat. He grappled with the monstrosity and shoved a krak grenade down its throat, and the resulting blast destroyed the beast, and blew off Tarkus' arm which he then replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic, as well as scarred his face.

For his valor, he was decorated with Terminator honors. During the First Aurelian Crusade he served alongside his brothers and under the Force Commander. He slew thousands of aliens, including the Eldar and their leader, Farseer Idranel, crushing her skull with his Terminator Power Fist. Tarkus' hatred of the Eldar goes back decades, wherein he was deceived by an Eldar ranger into walking into a trap which led to the deaths of his men. In his own words, he owes them 'a debt of blood and fury'.

During the events of Chaos Rising, Tarkus served once more and with tremendous skill against the terrible forces of the Black Legion. He also serves Captain Diomedes as "The Ancient" during the investigation of Chapter Master Kyras, whilst under a vow of silence taken as penance for his actions during Chaos Rising.

Affably Evil: Even if he turns traitor, Tarkus still retains his sensible personality. He even advises the Blood Ravens on tactics and quotes the Codex, as he did when he was on their side. This only serves to infuriate them, though.
- This actually makes a lot of sense considering that Tarkus's corruption ability tree is themed after Nurgle, who is also Affably Evil.
The Atoner: For a sin he committed which is apparently killing the traitor and he also feels responsible for the death of his past squad mates after he trusted an Eldar Ranger who then led them into a trap. Thus, Tarkus' hate for the Eldar grew to a level which only the Ordo Xenos could rival.
Bad Boss: If Tarkus turns out to be the traitor, he begins the boss fight by using his possessed bolter to kill off his Chaos Marine bodyguards as a demonstration of it's power.
Berserk Button: Eldar in general should really just frak off when they get a sighting of him. Also, the mere presence of traitors is enough for him to exhibit some Tranquil Fury.
BFG: Can wield Heavy Flamers in Terminator Armor and heavy weapons in Retribution.
Big Damn Hero: After his drop pod is shot down in the first mission of Chaos Rising, he rises wounded from the wreckage and delivers a righteous ass kicking to the traitor Guardsmen responsible.
Bolivian Army Ending: In the novels, he supposedly dies when he infiltrates a Tyranid hive ship to manually deliver the biotoxin. His last scene shows a Norn Queen and a horde of Tyranids bearing down on Tarkus, who is alone and equipped with naught but a combat knife and one frag grenade.
Broken Pedestal: If Tarkus turns out to be the Traitor then he becomes this to Thaddeus.
Chainsaw Good: He can wield Chainswords if you invest in his Strength discipline tree.
Cool Sword: He can also wield Power Swords in addition to Chainswords once you move further up the Strength discipline tree.
Disproportionate Retribution: Has to be talked out of letting the 'nids gobble up Angel Forge when he discovers that the governor had Blood Ravens chapter relics (namely, a squad's worth of Terminator armor) in his collection. For context, a single Astartes-pattern bolt round in a non-Space Marine's possession is grounds for summary execution, and Terminator armor is several times more valuable (largely because They can't make any more).
Evil Weapon: A corrupted Bolter named The Blighted Bolter used in the purge of Victory Bay. It's present in Dawn of War II as a normal Bolter which boosts melee damage, and in its corrupted form which only he can use in Chaos Rising, which grants a large boost to his Strength discipline and to his melee damage. It also shoots warpfire.
Foreshadowing: It's offhandedly mentioned that Tarkus has earned Terminator Honors early on in the campaign. He turns the tide in the battle for Angel Forge by taking Vandis's stolen terminator armor and wearing it against Idranel.
Friendly Enemy: If the traitor. He remains polite and friendly with the Blood Ravens, even giving Thaddeus advice mid-battle. As he's a proven traitor and heretic, this simply infuriates them all the more.
The Heart: In a more gritty way than usual, considering he's the ideal Space Marine. If he's the traitor, pretty much everyone is shocked to learn it — not even Avitus can believe it.
Jack of All Trades: Pretty much the most tactically versatile of all the marines under your command throughout Dawn of War II and beyond. Fitting, as he is trained for such things and is the most experienced member of the group. Taken to extreme lengths in Retribution, as he can fulfill the role of a Tactical Marine, Devastator Marine, Assault Marine or a combination of the three and can wield almost any weapon available. Justified in that space marines go through Scout, then Devastator and only then Assault duty before they (can) become Tactical Marines. In other words, he's done it all before.
Jet Pack: 1 point in his Energy discipline tree in 'Retribution' lets him use a Jump Pack and the 'Assault Jump' skill. Can't be used at the same time with heavy weapons.
Kill It with Fire: He can wield Flamers normally and Heavy Flamers in Terminator Armor.
The Lancer: He's a rock solid second in command.
Necessarily Evil: If he's the traitor in Chaos Rising. He wanted to use an Evil Weapon to save the chapter.
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: When the Blood Ravens were about to plant the bomb to blow up the depths of the Thur'Abis Plateau, Tarkus throttled a Necron Tomb Spyder and shoved a krak grenade down its throat, giving his brothers enough time to arm the bomb while losing his arm in the process.
Old Soldier: He has two service studs, which means he has served for at least 200 years. He's not as old as Gabriel, but he's probably one of the most senior members.Dude has seen some serious battles over the years, but hasn't lost his faith.
Only Sane Man: Along with Cyrus, he's likely the most levelheaded member of the strike force.
Please, Don't Leave Me: If he's the traitor than his last words are "Why are you abandoning me? We could have done so much together". At first it sounds like he's saying this to his former friend Avitus, but Jonah states that he's actually saying it to his chaos bolter.
Remember the New Guy?: Canon says he's been around since Dark Crusade at least.
The Reveal: He is The Ancient of Retribution's Space Marine campaign, making him The Atoner as well (see above).
No, there is much left to say. And I will break my silence to say it.
Sergeant Rock: Not only a survivor of FOUR Imperial Crusades, but an inspiration to the younger Blood Ravens.
The Stoic: Not to the extent of Cyrus, as he is far more emotive, but Tarkus is more than capable of keeping his composure under any number of circumstances.
Sword and Gun: If you invest in his Strength discipline tree. He also uses a Power Fist and Storm Bolter or Heavy Flamer in Terminator Armor regardless of specialization.
Tragic Villain: Should he become the traitor, his reasons for doing so are among the most tragic and heart rending in all of video game history. He only wishes to save the Chapter any further death and dishonor and strikes a deal with Chaos to do so, offering his own soul in exchange while completely aware of the consequences. (Most people who fall to Chaos go insane as a result of what have they done.)
Unwitting Pawn: If the traitor, he gives a good speech about how he's taken up a Chaos weapon fully cognizant of the costs and is doing it solely to save the chapter. But his dialogue in his boss battle and in particular his dying words being asking the weapon why it is abandoning him suggests that he was only rationalizing his treachery and was already undergoing the usual Sanity Slippage that comes with Chaos corruption.
Vengeance Feels Empty: Inverted. In Chaos Rising, he demands that he take part in an optional mission to fight against the Eldar. If you do the mission without him than he gains a level of corruption.
Warrior Monk: The best example among the Commander's strike force. He should be the company Chaplain, Emperor-Damnit!
Why Won't You Die?: His I Shall Not Fall passive makes him unkillable as long he is in Tactical Advance. This would continually drain his Energy, but there are weapons that allow him to recover the lost Energy during combat...

Scout Sergeant Cyrus

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cyrus_1019.png

"Your death is not only a possibility, Thaddeus; it is a certainty."
Voiced by: Steve Blum

A grim warrior and stern teacher, Cyrus is the instructor of the Chapter's initiates. Though among the most decorated of the Chapter's veterans, he voluntarily remains as a scout sergeant to train the next generations of Blood Ravens. As such, he is fiercely devoted and protective of those who trained under him.

Cyrus also had the honor of serving in the Deathwatch, the military arm of the Ordos Xenos to which he had further honed his skills as a Scout Marine. Thus, his penchance for unorthodox tactics and stealth rather than brute force has brought him into conflict with many Chapter Commanders, such as the likes of Captain Indrick Boreale during the Kaurava Campaign. Nonetheless, his combat experience against the Tyranid swarm during his Deathwatch days has served him well during the First Aurelian Crusade, where he contributed great tactical advice to the Force Commander in guiding the Blood Ravens to victory.

Cyrus endured the loss of the majority of the 10th company, many of whom he had trained, and many others who died due to Boreale's mishandling of the Kaurava campaign, which led him to label the campaign as a terrible mistake never to be spoken of again. Had he been the traitor at the end of Chaos Rising, such ineptitude on the part of Chapter Command post-Kaurava would have been the triggering point for his downfall to the ruinous powers, thus betraying his brothers in the process.

Cyrus is secretly reassigned to the command of Apollo Diomedes, and is subsequently drawn into the investigation of Chapter Master Azariah Kyras. Having been one of the Heroes of Aurelia, he knew that Kyras was a heretic, and has been trying to convince Diomedes of this since his reassignment. However, like any teacher his age, he knows that it will take time for Diomedes to accept this.

Almighty Janitor: A Scout Sergeant is about the lowest rank a Space Marine can have and still be above the rank and file. Cyrus is nevertheless one of the most experienced members of the Blood Ravens, a mentor to a sizable portion of the chapter, and his time in the Deathwatch makes him the resident expert on the Tyranids when the Hive Fleet comes to the sub-sector.
Badass Cape: Dons a light brown cape as befits a Space Marine Scout.
Badass Teacher: Was revealed to have taught a lot of initiates during his time in the Tenth Company. Considered a demanding, but patient and fair-minded scout sergeant, to which such traits inspire fanatical devotion from his Initiates.
BFG: His Sniper Rifle is about as big as he is. (And remember, while his light armor makes him look smaller than his companions, even scout marines are giants; he's probably seven feet tall or so.)
Boom, Headshot!: His 'High-Powered Shot' ability. One Hit Kills any infantry unit, aside from bosses, though it'll still do quite a bit of damage.
Cold Sniper: Rather stoic... unless you start gunning down his initiates, then he gets pissed.
Demolitions Expert: He's an expert with explosives, including but not limited to; Demolition Charges, Proximity Mines, and Remote Detonators.
Difficult, but Awesome: As a playable unit he's difficult to master, but he's absolutely essential to beating the game on Primarch difficulty.
A Father to His Men: Don't try to harm his initiates. You won't live to regret it.
Cyrus: *seeing his scouts being taken to the Warp* KILL THAT CHAOS FILTH!! KILL THEM ALL!!
Magikarp Power: In the early game, Cyrus is basically just a weaker version of Tarkus that can cloak. Fully leveled, especially once he can use explosives without breaking stealth, and he can solo entire missions on his own.
Odd Friendship: One of the sniper rifles that he can find was sent to him by a Space Wolf battle brother who he befriended during his time with the Deathwatch. Normally Space Wolves hold the Blood Ravens in contempt due to their heavy use of psykers and less agressive battle tactics. But this Space Wolf/Deathwatch brother is so loyal a friend that when he found out about the Blood Ravens future problems, he sends Cyrus a hand-crafted sniper rifle to help tip the balance in his favor.
Older Than They Look: Though this is normal for the super-human Astartes, Cyrus' dialogue If he is the traitor in Chaos Rising suggests that he was the instructor for several, maybe even all of the other Sergeants and the Force Commander.
One-Man Army: He's one of the Blood Ravens best snipers an if leveled properly, is capable of clearing entire levels on his own.
Remember the New Guy?: According to canon, he was around during the events of Soulstorm, but differences between him and Boreale prompted his transfer to Captain Thule's command by Dawn of War II.. Understandably, he doesn't like to talk about it that much.
Shotguns Are Just Better: One of his weapons choices, and he can use high explosive rounds with them.
The Smart Guy: Knows the most about Tyranids since he served in the Deathwatch.
Sniper Rifle: A weapon option available for him, which later becomes his default weapon in Retribution.
Surrounded by Idiots: If he becomes the traitor in Chaos Rising, it's because he's had enough of the incompetence of the Blood Ravens command staff.
Stern Teacher: Stern, but caring. One of his lessons to Thaddeus is a harsh reminder that he, along with every Space Marine, is going to die violently in a battle somewhere. He thus tells Thaddeus to remember things like a recent victory they won so that, when his time comes, he has happy memories to dwell on as he faces the end.
The Stoic: Never loses his cool, unless his initiates are in danger.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: If he's the traitor in Chaos Rising. He wanted to use the power to purge the chapter of incompetent leaders.

Devastator Sergeant Avitus

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Avitus_7448.png

"Come on, Aliens! Show me your fury!!"
Voiced by: James Horan

The fearsome devastator sergeant of the Force Commander's strikeforce. Avitus' greatest weapon is his unmatched hatred for the enemies of the Emperor, which had first flared in his youth, where his village was continually exploited by a corrupt Guardsman regiment. These events had left the young Avitus with a seething hatred for the Imperial Guard, decrying them as weaklings and cowards.

He and Davian Thule first met each other when they faced the terrible Chaos Witch Morgana whilst they were mere initiates, and it was Avitus' suppressing fire that held down the heretic long enough for Thule to slay her. From that day onwards, Avitus gained a great respect for his future captain.

He would soon serve Davian Thule once more during the Kronus campaign, where he would distinguish himself once more during the assault on Victory Bay when the Blood Ravens fought the 1st Kronus Liberators led by Governor-General Lukas Alexander. Two of his close friends were killed in the assault, but Avitus' skill won the day. But his terrible rage had only grown, where once he would have barely tolerated the guardsmen, he now felt nothing but the blackest contempt for them all.

After the Kronus campaign, Avitus was assigned along with the rest of his company to defend the Chapter's recruiting worlds in subsector Aurelia. He fought during both Aurelian Crusades, unleashing his fury upon the Tyranids and the Black Legion. The events of Victory Bay had long haunted him, and it proved enough compromise to allow his heart to be darkened by those events. As such, Azariah Kyras came before him and ordered him to aid Eliphas the Inheritor in his efforts against the Blood Ravens during Chaos Rising.

Actually Pretty Funny: He was audibly amused when he found out that Administrator Derosa got sick of her bosses' stalling tactics and stormed his manor.
"I think she missed her calling. She should have been a Sister of Battle."
Ax-Crazy:
- He has some shades of this especially when under Chaos influence.
  Avitus: KILL THEM ALL! LET THERE BE BLOOD!!
- However, his dialogue subverts this if he is the traitor. With the loss of his faith in the chapter, Avitus is haunted by all the lives he has taken, and their screams can only be drowned out by the roar of bolterfire:
  Avitus: Only the fury of battle can silence the dead!
Bad Boss: If he turns traitor, the mission to take him out will have him berating and insulting the Chaos Space Marines under his command at every opportunity. This is justified in that he doesn't hate them any less than he did as a loyalist marine.
The Berserker: He tends to get quite angry in the heat of battle, VERY, VERY ANGRY.
BFG: Pretty much every weapon he can use, even by Space Marine standards.
The Big Guy: Though an incredibly less jovial type.
Black Comedy: Overlaps with Deadpan Snarker.
Blood Knight: "The Ork is dead. Find us worthier opponents in the future."
Broken Pedestal: He's basically a glimpse into how things will be with Kyras. Avitus exclaims that virtues like 'honor, duty, brotherhood' are nothing but lies and delusions, used by weaklings to justify destruction. On his deathbed, he sums the universe of 40K rather aptly.
Avitus: It matters not who lives and dies... blood is shed as it has always been... there... is nothing else... in this... forsaken.. existence...
Commander Contrarian: His solution to every problem is murder, tactical sense be damned. It catches up to him...
Concepts Are Cheap: Avitus was revealed to believe this after his betrayal was revealed.
Avitus: Honor, Brotherhood, Duty—they are no more than delusions and lies. We use them to justify the death and destruction left in our wake! I cannot tolerate it any longer! I have seen the rot that runs through our chapter's honor and it justifies nothing! My memories are full of the screams of those I have killed. Where others see life, I see only death!
Cutting Off the Branches: Retribution does this to establish him as the canonical traitor. Tarkus, Cyrus, Jonah, and Martellus all appear still alive, leaving only Thaddeus and Avitus, and when Tarkus alludes to the traitor he states the man served on Kronus, ruling out Thaddeus.
The Cynic: Everything he says.
Avitus: You are purging yourself of a weakness, Thaddeus. But there are more to come; you cling to hope, which brings with it only despair. We are weapons. There is the Emperor and there is war. Nothing more."
Deadpan Snarker: More often than not.
Don't You Dare Pity Me!: He plays this on Tarkus as he dies.
Avitus: I want NONE of your pity, Tarkus! But remember this day... because you are looking at your own future. One day, you will see through all the lies... and then the dead... will come for you, as well...
Et Tu, Brute?: If you play a game where he isn't the traitor, he takes the treachery of the guilty party very badly. It's worst if it's Tarkus, though, not the least because he keeps acting like a Friendly Enemy the whole time.
Face–Heel Turn: Although player actions determine who the traitor actually is in Chaos Rising, Avitus is the canon betrayer.
Freudian Excuse: He hates the Imperial Guard because his hometown was oppressed by a corrupt regiment. This is not helped by the loss of two of his friends in the assault on Victory Bay during the Dark Crusade.
Gatling Good: He can wield an Assault Cannon while in Terminator Armor.
Glass Cannon: Can shred anything at range, but is a sitting duck if he gets caught in melee. Terminator armour remedies this to an extent.
Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has several large gashes on his face. It's amazing he still has his face.
I Did What I Had to Do: Defied. In his traitor scene in Chaos Rising he is the only traitor (besides Jonah, who is possessed) who is completely aware of what he's doing and unwilling to justify it in any way.
It Has Been an Honor: To the Imperial Guardsmen accompanying you, of all people, during the final mission of Dawn of War II. He even becomes less abusive towards them in Chaos Rising.
Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Less overt that Kyras, but there's noticable subtext in Avitus's passing of the Despair Event Horizon. His speech about how there is nothing in the universe but bloodshed and there is no meaning to anything they do smacks of him realizing he lives in a universe that exists to enact war games.
Psychological Projection: If the traitor, he mocks his brothers by claiming he can hear them "mewling" in shock and dismay at his treachery. A reaction none of them actually had, everyone being either angry or grimly resigned to killing him. But if Tarkus is the traitor, then Avitus will show stunned disbelief at the revelation, suggesting he was assuming they'd react to his betrayal the same way he would to his most trusted brother being a heretic.
Remember the New Guy??: Much like Tarkus, the canon says he's been around since Dark Crusade.
Old Soldier: Like Tarkus, he has two service studs, meaning he has served for at least 200 years.
Suicide by Cop: The reason for his betrayal. In essence, he is furious and shattered that all the battles he has fought and all the lives he has shattered and all the brothers who have fallen by his side were all in service to a heretic. As such, he is incapable of justifying the death he has inflicted upon others now and is disgusted with the dishonor of the chapter. As such, he doesn't want to live any more.
Tragic Villain: Learning that Kyras was a heretic shattered his sanity. Even as he lies dying he is unrepentant for any of the deeds he has done and is unable to justify any of them. He is ultimately a soldier broken by unending war and despair, which makes it all the more heroic that his comrades do not. This is especially notable as there are no signs he has been corrupted by chaos, unlike Tarkus, Thaddeus, and especially Jonah Orion.
Unstoppable Rage: His usual state when in combat, especially strong against Araghast the Pillager.

Assault Sergeant Thaddeus

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Thaddeus_7848.jpg

"FURY FROM THE SKY! CUT THEM DOWN!"
Voiced by: Philip Anthony-Rodriguez

Thaddeus leads the Assault Squad in Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising. One of the youngest Space Marine sergeants ever, he is also the first Blood Raven to come from Meridian in a long time. Brash, exuberant, and enthusiastic, he is also the idealist of the strike force. Ironically, he's a former ganger. Of course, by 'idealistic', we mean relatively. In any other setting he'd be rather grim.

Big Damn Heroes: How he introduces himself right after delivering the above quote.
Bizarre Alien Psychology: In one of the odd comments he makes after a mission, Thaddeus notices that after becoming a Space Marine, he's losing touch with his original hive-ganger self. Where he use to get a rush from combat, he find that his mind is instead clearing during battle and that with each battle his devotion to the Emperor is growing in an increasingly inhuman way. He feels a sense of pride but also a bit of sadness. Cyrus and Tarkus comment that this is a natural process for a Space Marine, that all of them will grow apart from humanity.
Boisterous Bruiser: Certainly more upbeat than his brothers.
Chainsaw Good: Prefers using a Chainsword in combat and it's his default weapon.
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Thaddeus just seems to vanish by Retribution. Since Avitus was the canon betrayer, we don't know what happened to him.
Cool Sword: Can wield quite a few, from Chainswords to Power Swords.
Glass Cannon: He can deal quite a lot of damage, especially with his 'Assault Jump' ability, but he won't last long in prolonged combat. Terminator armor does rectify this to an extent, but he'll still be rather fragile. On the other hand, he has skills that can make him invulnerable for a surprisingly long time and depending on what skills he has, he can repeat this invulnerability in succession. Combine that with his jump/teleport ability and he becomes a true Lightning Bruiser.
Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: More precisely good cannot understand the gritty and ruthlessly brutal nature of being a ruthless killing machine. He believes Space Marines are meant to be saviors and defenders of humanity, instead of ruthless and inhuman killing machines dedicated to simply destroying the enemies of the Imperium. Naturally he clashes with Avitus over this in complete shock of Avitus' cynical designation of Space Marines as warriors, not saviors.
The Heart: So much that Avitus occasionally calls him out for it.
Horrible Judge of Character: If he becomes the traitor, he did it because he trusted the word of a daemon.
Hot-Blooded: Enjoys a good fight, and as a young Space Marine is not nearly as jaded as Cyrus or Avitus.
I Did What I Had to Do: If he's the traitor in Chaos Rising, claims he made a Deal with the Devil (specifically Ulkair) in order to save you from the hive fleet. According to Jonah, he's been suckered.
Innocent Bigot: Thaddeus has no hatred for the Eldar and actually wouldn't mind becoming allies with them to save Meridian, but if you fend off an Eldar attack on a Imperial shrine, sometimes Thaddeus will wonder why the Eldar are attacking an Imperial shrine when they should instead be building temples to the Emperor so that he may forgive them of the sin of being a xeno. Cyrus then replies that being a xeno is one sin that the Emperor cannot forgive...
Jet Pack: His entire shtick as an Assault Marine is using Jump Packs to get in and out of combat.
Last Stand: When he was a child, a civil war broke out in his hive. When Captain Thule was deployed to put it down, he found Thaddeus standing alone, fending off an entire mob. He was so impressed that he recruited Thaddeus himself.
Meaningful Name: His name means; 'courageous heart'. Fitting, considering what he acts like...
Naïve Newcomer: Even at the age of eighty he plays that role.
Older Than They Look: He looks like he is somewhere in his thirties, but he's actually at least 80 years old.
Power Fist: He can wield one.
Pro-Human Transhuman: Thaddeus sees the purpose of the Space Marines as protectors of the human race, especially the downtrodden average hive-dweller. This puts him at odds with Avitus.
Sword and Gun: Wields a melee weapon ^notedefaults to a Chainsword and a pistol ^notedefaults to a Bolt Pistol.
Took a Level in Badass: In Dawn of War II, the Merciless Strike skill of his was a pain to use. The problem was that he'd go into a protracted wind-up animation before doing a single Razor Wind, so most foes would simply wander out of the way. However, in Chaos Rising, you can upgrade that skill so that instead of doing a wind-up into a shockwave, he and his fellow assault marines will charge or teleport attack into their opponent for a wide-area knockdown attack. They then immediately follow it up with Razor Wind attacks by ALL the members in the party. This practically guarantees that the enemies will be hit and greatly increases the damage. In medium levels of difficulty, this will usually pulverize regular enemies in a single attack.
Teleporters and Transporters: 'Assault Jump' is replaced with 'Teleport' when he's using Terminator Armor.
This Cannot Be!: His final words in Chaos Rising should he become the traitor.
Unwitting Pawn: Indicated to be this if the traitor. He believes he made a Deal with the Devil with Ulkair to allow the Blood Ravens fleet to break through the shadow in the Warp to reinforce the strike force and save them. Jonah, however, was abroad the fleet and one of the psykers divining a path through the shadow and is convinced Ulkair didn't actually do anything to help them out.
Wide-Eyed Idealist: About as idealistic as a Space Marine can be. He believes Space Marines should be saviors of mankind, fight for those the Emperor Protects and strive to protect the innocent whenever able. He even believes the Eldar of all people can be cooperated with if they dutifully repent for their sin of being xeno.
Wolverine Claws: Can wield them in Chaos Rising, and they come in regular and Terminator variants.
What Happened to the Mouse?: He is nowhere to be seen by Retribution, and with Avitus being the Canon betrayer there's nothing out there to say what his current status is.

Techmarine Martellus

"Speed the bolt that brings death to our enemies!"
Voiced by: Steve Blum

Martellus provides support and intel in Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising, and is a playable hero in Retribution. The voice of reason, he remains calm and collected even in the most dire of circumstances (unless it involves damaged machinery).

Ascended Extra: From a support character in Dawn of War II, to a possible traitor in Chaos Rising, and playable character in Retribution.
Berserk Button: The only time he actually gets angry in the entire series is when he hears that a Land Raider has been taken by traitors, aside from his non-canon fall to Chaos.
Martellus: A war machine... A sacred Land Raider... In the hands of Traitors?! By the Omnissiah, Kyras CANNOT be allowed to hold such a sacred weapon!
Cyborg: As trained by the Adeptus Mechanicus, he has quite a few bionic implants in order to achieve the 'purity of a machine'.
The Butler Did It: Non-canonically. If you preserve your entire squad free of corruption throughout Chaos Rising, Martellus — a relatively minor NPC in this campaign — turns out to be the traitor. Avitus is the canonical traitor, though.
Cool Helmet: One of the few hero Space Marines in Dawn of War that defies Helmets Are Hardly Heroic.
Determinator: When his ship crashed landed, his armor and implants were so damaged that he couldn't move. It took him months to finally enact his Rites to make him mobile again. Several months later he gets rescued after tracking down a communication array.
The Lancer: To Captain Apollo Diomedes in Retribution.
Lightning Bruiser: If fought in Chaos Rising, he uses a powered up Chaos Predator tank, which is fast, can take a ton of damage and packs a ton firepower and some very damaging special attacks.
Machine Worship: As a Techmarine, he is part of both the Blood Ravens and the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Mission Control: In Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising. Decides to get his hands dirty in Retribution.
Mr. Fixit: As with all Techmarines.
Not So Stoic: In Chaos Rising, Martellus panics at the end of his distress message when Chaos Marines attack the array he is defending. When your squad comes to rescue him the relief in his voice is undeniable. During the same battle, he gets struck down by a Bloodletter. He screams at the thing to get away from him as he desparately tries to fight it off. If he is the traitor than he is angry at the rest of the squad for abandoning him in the jungle. In Retribution, he becomes enraged when a sacred machine of the God-Emperor is misused.
Real Men Love Jesus: As a Techmarine, he is a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus who worships the Machine God. Unless he's the traitor.
The Smart Guy: He's a Techmarine, he knows stuff.
The Stoic: Normally speaks in a mechanical monotone voice.
Superboss: In Chaos Rising, your reward for accomplishing a playthrough without any Corruption (and thus none of the Strike Force falling to Chaos) is facing a psychotic Heretek Martellus driving a Chaos Preadator tank. He's one of the hardest bosses in the game.
You Shall Not Pass!: Between the events of Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising, He managed to survive his Thunderhawk crashing into the Tyranid infested jungles of Typhon, repaired his own heavily damaged bionic implants, survived against the masses of feral Tyranid without support for a year and then holding off an army of Black Legionnaires until help arrives in order to protect an irreplaceable technological device. What he suffered through during this time is what breaks him and motivates his betrayal if he turns out to be the traitor.

Apothecary Gordian

"Commander, I am Apothecary Gordian, chief of geno-medicine aboard the Armageddon."
Voiced by: Ian Gregory

The Blood Angel Apothecary who specializes in xeno-medicine. He was in the Kronos campaign alongside Davian Thule, collecting samples of xeno bloods throughout the battle won. During the Tyranid incursion of the Aurelia sub-sector, he provides support for the Blood Raven aboard the Armageddon.

Early-Bird Cameo: He was first mentioned in Dark Crusade, after the Space Marine defeated the Tau. His role was to collect the blood of the Xenos, which meant that he was tasked with dissecting the Ethereal's body. He missed that chance as O'kais took the body before leaving the planet.
Heroic Sacrifice: He stayed in the destroyed Armageddon in order to drop emergency drop-pods for your remaining squads for the final battle.
Davian Thule: "The Armageddon is no more. Gordian's sacrifice must not be in vain."
The Medic: As an Apothecary, he stabilized the wounded Davian Thule received from the Tyranid Hive Tyrant to prevent the poison from taking effect in his surviving tissues. He also administered an antidote for Thule, before interring the latter into a Dreadnought.

Librarian Jonah Orion

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Jonah_Orion_2593.jpg

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_1335.PNG

"My powers are ours to share."
Voiced by: Alan Shearman(Dawn of War II)/Babou Ceesay(Dawn of War III)

Jonah Orion was once a student of the late Isador Akios. Due to Isador's fall to Chaos, suspicions arose that Jonah himself was tainted. It was only due to the support of Gabriel Angelos and Azariah Kyras himself that these doubts were put to rest. During the Tyranid invasion, he was one of the psykers tasked with battling the mighty Hive Mind as Captain Angelos made for sub-sector Aurelia. Of the dozen Librarians, Navigators and Astropaths accompanying Angelos, only Jonah survived. Although still bearing the scars of his ordeal in the Warp, Jonah has served with honour, and his psychic abilities have allowed the Blood Ravens to root out several leftover pockets of Tyranid infestation.

He continued to serve with great valor during the Black Legion invasion, bringing his tremendous psychic powers to bear against the Black Legion. His extensive knowledge of the influences of the Warp also served to keep the Blood Ravens from the worst of Chaos' cunning. When the Black Legion was eventually routed, he and his brothers were branded as renegades by the traitorous Chapter Master Azariah Kyras. Jonah now serves once again in the Third Company alongside Captain Gabriel Angelos.

Badass Bookworm: Par for the course for a librarian.
Jonah: *regarding Thaddeus* So young to bear the burdens of a Space Marine...

Berserk Button: Do. Not. Harm. His. Battle Brothers.
Demonic Possession: If he's the traitor in Chaos Rising. The daemon possessed him thanks to Kyras selling off the codes to circumvent his psychic hood, though the mental scars from his battle with the Tyranid Hive Mind left him vulnerable.
Fighting from the Inside: If he's possessed, he wrestles with the daemon inside him long enough to let his friends kill him.
Healing Hands: He functions as a medic with some of his support abilities.
Heroic Sacrifice: If he's the traitor, he manages to prevent the daemon from mending him so that he can be put down. It's left ambiguous whether or not doing so costs him his soul to the Warp (the daemon claims this is the case, but Tarkus claims the Emperor will save Jonah). It seemed Kyras killed him in the last mission of Retribution, but he survived and makes it to Dawn of War III.
It Has Been an Honor: His exchange with Angelos during the final battle of Retribution:
Orion: These many decades have been an honor, Gabriel. Commend my service to the Emperor.
Angelos: Emperor keep you, Librarian.
Kill It with Fire: His psychic firebolt attack is as damaging as an RPG.
Large Ham: HE WILL DESTROY THEIR MINDS AND BURN THEIR BODIES!!
Magic Knight: Give him a Force Sword and he'll make short work of most infantry.
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: He endured a mental battle against the Hive Mind itself. However, if he's the traitor in Chaos Rising which canonically, he isn't, the scars from that battle make it easier for the daemon to possess him after Kyras gives away his psychic hood's access rites.
Old Soldier: One of the oldest members of the Force Commander's strike force. He even adopts a bit of paternal role to Thaddeus. Especially if he turns traitor (non-canon).
Psychic Powers: With the death of Isador, he is likely the most powerful Psyker left in the Third Company and possibly amongst the most powerful in the Chapter aside from Azariah Kyras himself.

Red Oni, Blue Oni: In III he is the Blue Oni to Diomedes' Red Oni.
Scary Black Man: An angry black man with a vaguely English accent, being voiced by Alan Shearman anyway.
Shock and Awe: His aptly named "Smite" ability. It launches lightning bolts at the enemy.
Sixth Ranger: He first appears in Chaos Rising.
Sole Survivor: Of the Librarians who fought a mental war with the Hive Mind during the last mission of DoWII.
Tele-Frag: One of his abilities is to teleport into a single enemy infantry unit, killing just about any non-boss infantry unit instantly.
Token Good Teammate: Jonah can be considered this among the potential traitors in the player's Strike Force in Chaos Rising. Everyone else voluntarily turns to Chaos in some manner, motivated by desperation to save their Chapter (Thaddeus & Tarkus), despair and/or rage at the treachery and incompetence of the Blood Ravens' Command Staff (Avitus & Cyrus) or simple desperation to survive (Martellus). Jonah on the other hand has literally no choice in the matter of his treason and fights the daemon possessing him to the bitter end, willing to (according to the daemon itself) damn his soul to being consumed by the Warp to protect his Battle Brothers from his possessed body.

Captain Apollo Diomedes

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Diomedes_R_2448.png

As Honor Guard Captain

^{Click here for his appearance in Dawn of War III}

"With blood and fire, we shall cleanse this black stain from the Chapter's honor."
Voiced by: Keith Szarabajka(Dawn of War II)/Sebastian Abinieri(Dawn of War III)

Perhaps the greatest warrior in Blood Raven history, Captain Apollo Diomedes is Captain of the Honor Guard and Champion of Azariah Kyras. Having previously commanded the Chapter's First Company, his rise to greater glory occurred on the ravaged penal world of Obscurus, where he handily defeated the forces of the Chaos Sorcerer Anupharis the Cruel and Warboss Manstompa Megakilla on the same day. For this victory, Diomedes rose to captaincy of the Honor Guard. For two centuries, he has led the Chapter's elite with honor and skill.

Captain Apollo Diomedes is the stern right hand of Kyras, unwaveringly devoted to the word of the Chapter Master and acting as his emissary to the most far-flung battle brothers. His loyalty, bordering on fanaticism, has led him to overlook some of the Chapter Master's darker decisions... such as his order to cease operations against the Black Legion and to brand Gabriel Angelos a renegade. Although he was exposed to evidence of Kyras' fall to Chaos, he refused to turn against his master and continued to believe in his innocence though he did not interfere further in the efforts of Gabriel Angelos and the Force Commander.

10 years then passed, and Captain Diomedes faced a crossroads... either to admit that his entire life has been a lie, in service to a heretic and take up a last stand to redeem all he loves or to continue down his path and stand idly by... If his Chapter is to survive, Diomedes must now overcome his own pride...

Diomedes returns in Dawn of War III having hung up his days as First Captain of the Blood Ravens...but only because he's become the Blood Raven's Chaplain.

Ascended Extra: Yeah, the boss you took on the third to last mission of Chaos Rising is now the hero of Retribution.
The Atoner: In the second half of the campaign, he decides to atone for the sins he committed while serving Kyras, who has now been revealed as a traitor to the Imperium.
Authority Equals Asskicking: He is the Captain of the Honor Guard, who are Elite Mooks even among Space Marines. Even more so after his promotion to Chaplain in Dawn of War III.
Bling-Bling-BANG!: His Armor during his appearance as a unit in Chaos Rising has him decked in ornate gold trim over the standard Blood Ravens colors. Surprisingly he ditches these from Retribution onward.
Break the Haughty: By the Emperor, the first half of the Space Marine campaign is rather adamant on kicking him in the teeth and turning his entire world upside down. See Heroic BSOD below.
Byronic Hero: A very prideful and arrogant man. Which stems from his fear of Kyras' heresy, for if that were true, it would basically mean that his entire life has been wasted. And he has lived a rather long time.
Character Development: Going from a pawn of Kyras, to realizing not all is as it seems, to finally seeing the monster Kyras is and despairing, to gathering his courage to redeem himself and his chapter. He also ends up as being much less dogmatic and Lawful Stupid as the campaign progresses. By Dawn of War III he has given up his position in the honor guard and has become a chaplain.
Cool Helmet:
- A large bit of his appeal among the fanbase upon his introduction in Chaos Rising. He loses it in Retribution, though he can still get it back through a Wargear DLC pack.
- By the time of Dawn of War III, he wears a helmet again, but this time with the skull-faced visage of a Chaplain (in Terminator armor no less.)
The Corrupter: If the Force Commander kills off the Blood Ravens Honor Guard but spares Apothecary Galan, then said Apothecary becomes this to Diomedes.
Determinator: It takes a lot to power through when you see your beloved Chapter Master fall to heresy and goad you about it.
Downloadable Content: He gets upgraded to a Primaris Chaplain in Dawn of War III, by way of The Endless War update, though this is more of a cosmetic re-skin rather than an upgrade from his default Terminator armor.
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Basically everyone refered to him as "Diomedes" in Retribution. Only Azariah Kyras has used his first name, probably as a way to stroke his pride and favor to the Chapter Master
Fatal Flaw: Pride. It's what blinds him to Kyras' treachery.
Famed In-Story: He is outright called a hero of the chapter by Angelos in Dawn of War III.
Foe-Tossing Charge: His base ability, 'To Victory'. Taken to ridiculous levels when upgraded.
"Get Back Here!" Boss: Inverted in II, though not necessarily. Your final fight with him ends when you kill him, or stick to mission parameters and level his HQ. The mission ends with either, but to actually give your units the time they need to level it without killing Diomedes involves kiting him around the arena space.
The Hero: Designated as one for the Space Marines campaign in Retribution, as he leads the Blood Ravens in uncovering the secret behind their Chapter Master.
Heroic BSoD: Kyras' actions throughout Retribution broke his faith in the Chapter Master into atoms, and he couldn't stand the fact that he was serving a traitor all along. Luckily, he gets better.
Honor Before Reason: It is true that even if we defeat the traitor we face condemnation and death. But it is not for pride or favor that we serve, but for the Emperor Himself; and the purpose He has granted us. And if we shall die fulfilling that purpose then so be it. None shall find us wanting.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Generally acts like an arrogant, obstructive and downright unreasonable bastard, but underneath is an honorable and heroic soul who is torn at a crossroads.
Jet Pack: Has a Jump Pack in Chaos Rising and can be equipped with one in Retribution.
Killed Off for Real: Was on Starbase Helios when it crashed in Dawn of War 3. And he is found alive and well, so subverted.
Knight Templar: He's absolutely devoted to the Chapter Master with the sort of fanaticism that Space Marines usually reserve only for the Emperor. Cyrus calls him out on this.
Cyrus: Diomedes, you have been in service to Kyras for centuries, and as such, know him better than any of us. Let me ask you this; do you maintain Kyras' innocence because you know him to a faithful and virtuous servant of the Emperor? Or is it instead that the shame of a life spent in service to a heretic is too much to bear?
Large Ham: IT IS THE BANEBLAAAAAAADE!
Lightning Bruiser: While he doesn't hit as hard as say, Eliphas in Retribution (though he has more health, oddly), he's certainly much faster, especially with a Jump Pack. He hits pretty hard too.
- Later patches took this even further as his To Victory skill when fully upgraded did more damage than any other ability in the game and can wipe out entire armies. Another one of his upgrades gives him health back for each kill and hit he lands. With those abilities he's invincible as long as he's in close combat, he can even run up to the Final Boss and he won't die.
Meaningful Name: Named after one of the greatest warriors of Homer's Iliad, and one who managed to wound two Olympians on the battlefield. Fitting, as Diomedes is among the greatest warriors of the Blood Ravens, if not the greatest.
Obstructive Zealot: He starts out as one in Chaos Rising. He mends his ways in Retribution.
Old Soldier: 4 service studs means 400 years of granting The Emperor's Peace to the Imperium's enemies.
One-Man Army: Later patches in Retibution turn him into a death machine whose abilities can wipe entire armies, can heal himself while landing hits and kills allowing him to restore health faster than enemies can damage him, and has abilities that render him immune to damage.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red Oni to Jonah's Blue Oni in III. Best exemplified after Gabriel's apparent death thanks to Inquisitor Holt's incompetence, Diomedes wants to kill him.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: The second half of the campaign is him slaughtering Kyras' forces, destroying his interests and finally taking the battle to him, and gentlemen, it is glorious.
- He prepares to go on one against Inquisitor Holt in Dawn of War III when it appeared that his bombardment of Acheron has killed Chapter Master Angelos. Luckily, Jonah talks him out of it.
Say My Name: Upon finding irrefutable proof of Kyras' heresy. It's not the standard over-the-top scream, it's an incredibly well acted whisper of contempt.
Selective Obliviousness: This is why he didn't notice Kyras' fall to Chaos for so long, and even does things like attributing an intercepted message from Chaos forces naming Kyras as their leader to the traitors simply trying to frame the Chapter Master. He really doesn't want to have to face the implications of what Kyras being a heretic means.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: Gives 2 particularly epic ones to Kyras. In the second, everyone joins in.
Unwitting Pawn: Towards Kyras' machinations in Chaos Rising. The entire Space Marine campaign of Retribution is about him slowly realizing that he became this up until the Exterminatus of Typhon Primaris.
Warrior Monk: A quadricentenarian veteran of countless wars. More so after he becomes a Chaplain.
Worthy Opponent: Claimed to be this by Kyras at the end of Retribution. According to Kyras, one thing he didn't lie to Diomedes about is that he truly is the finest warrior of the Blood Ravens. Kyras also treats Diomedes coming to stop him more seriously than any other enemy, except for perhaps Eliphas.

Apothecary Galan

Voiced by: Keith Ferguson

A Blood Raven Apothecary that journeyed through the Judgement of Carrion, stalked by the demon Ulkair. It was he that discovered Azariah Kyras in the derelict ship and returned him back to sub-sector Aurelia. He has since been promoted into the Honor Guard by Kyras.

The Corrupter: If he is left alive and not killing many loyalists in the mission "Raid on Calderis," he tempts the furious Apollo Diomedes when he vow vengeance on the Blood Raven.
Dying as Yourself: Upon being slain by the Blood Ravens, he was released of the demons within and warned the Blood Ravens that the Honor Guard are all corrupted by Chaos, except for Apollo Diomedes. This warning prompted them to spare Diomedes and warn him about corruption within the Blood Ravens.
Face–Heel Turn: After spending a period of time in the Judgement of Carrion, he became corrupted by Chaos and served Kyras in the Honor Guard.

Chapter Master Azariah Kyras (UNMARKED SPOILERS)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Azariah_Kyras_8802.jpg

Voiced by: Peter Giles

Azariah Kyras was once the apprentice and student of the then Chapter Master Moriah. The most significant event of his life was when he and his brethren gathered on the world of Aurelia to defeat the daemon Ulkair. Moriah struck the Unclean One, wounding him viciously before succumbing to death. Kyras still stood, and shackled the vile daemon at the heart of the planet, though not before Ulkair cast Kyras to the Judgement of Carrion, where he was trapped for centuries. A 5th Company strike team under Apothecary Galan was eventually dispatched to the Space Hulk, wherein they found Kyras, holding his own against the ravenous daemons who infested the craft.

Kyras joined forces with Galan and escaped the craft by methods that were never disclosed. Though many saw his return as an omen of favor from the Emperor Himself, Gabriel Angelos was always more skeptical, fearing that there was a darker hand than the Emperor's that brought forth Kyras' return...

Actually Pretty Funny: When confronted on Typhon, he normally engages in a bit of mocking banter with the player's faction. Seeing Orks coming to stop him prompts him to bust into wheezing laughter at how absurd it is that they are the enemies in hot pursuit of him.
Apocalypse How: He pulls off a Class 6 on Typhon, and attempts an X-2 on the rest of the sector.
Artistic License – Religion: In-Universe. Kyras is an unusual case of a Librarian (effectively the Space Marine equivalent of a Sorcerer) pledging himself to Khorne, the Chaos God who's expressly noted to hate psykers. The fact he was able to ascend into a Daemon Prince shows he had Khorne's favor as well, which makes it even stranger. Whether it was due to his deeds, the Maledictum Daemon's involvement or any other reason, it was never explained.
Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: His Daemon Prince form, it's so big you don't even see his whole body (which doesn't seem to have formed yet) and even without he makes the largest units look like toys.
Ax-Crazy: To an amazing degree.
Kyras: It must be... magnificent. To hear a planet writhe and scream. To feel it convulse beneath your own feet. Witness it dying with living eyes. In time, perhaps I may share this gift with every last living soul in the galaxy... Until then... *Evil Laugh*
Battle Aura: Even his portrait is glowing with a scary red aura.
Big Bad: The main antagonist of Dawn of War II: Retribution. His fall to Chaos plunges the Blood Ravens into a Chapter wide civil war.
Big Red Devil: His Daemon Prince form.
Blood Knight: He worships Khorne, what do you expect? When you undo his invulnerability, he laughs and challenges you to come forth and face him in combat.
Breaking Speech: Hits Diomedes with one in the Retribution Space Marine campaign, revealing that yes, he was a traitor and his service was a lie.
Breath Weapon: One of his attacks as a Daemon Prince is breathing fire.
Combat Compliment: To Eliphas, Kyras enthusiastically applauds Eliphas' vicious combat ability and the thousands he has slain to reach him. Claiming that he has earned the right to an audience with him. The only other one he offers a compliment to is Diomedes, stating that amid all the lies, the one truth he has told is that he is the greatest warrior in the history of the Blood Ravens.
The Corrupter: Kyras convinces Apothecary Galen to accept demonic posession, when Thaddeus is the traitor it's because Kyras gave him permission to sell his soul to a daemon, when Avitus is the traitor, it's because Kyras shattered his faith by revealing his own heresy, and when Jonah Orion is the traitor it's because Kyras helped a demon take possession of his mind.
Creepy Monotone: Usually. Then he gives his New Era Speech and unleashes enough crazed, Warp-infused ham to feed a Tyranid Hive Ship.
Damage-Sponge Boss: The boss fight with him. He doesn't move, so there isn't much strategy beyond attacking him, the towers that protect parts of his lifebar, and whatever enemies he summons. And the fight generally takes forever because he has a ship load of HP.
Dark Is Not Evil: When you see him in Chaos Rising, he looks like a Chaos Space Marine, even though he is allied with the Blood Ravens. His chatbox in-game is the above picture. Ultimately subverted - that time he spent in the Warp really wasn't good for his sanity.
The Dreaded: His alliance with the Daemon from the Maledictum puts the fear of him into several characters. Even the Tyranid Hive Mind views him as a threat, to the point it sends the Swarmlord against him.
Demonic Possession: He was possessed by the Daemon of the Maledictum.
Evil Laugh: Does a light cackle after leaving the player to die on Typhon. In the Ork campaign, he outright laughs hysterically at Orks being sent after him.
Evil Plan: The entire storyline of Dawn of War II and its expansions were orchestrated by him to bring about the Exterminatus. All in the glorification of Khorne, namely, unremitting bloodshed. Tells you enough about how brilliant this guy is, really.
Face–Heel Turn: Initially on the side of the Blood Ravens during his introduction, but his corruption from the Maledictum made him Retribution's Big Bad.
Final Boss: Once he ascends to Daemonhood, he's the final boss the player must defeat in Retribution.
For the Evulz: He understands that there is no greater purpose to Chaos, only it's own glory and reveling in the bloodshed and he could not care less.
Freudian Excuse: He was personally present for a battle that the Blood Ravens ultimately won, but which was a major Pyrrhic Victory and was, ultimately, All for Nothing. And all he got for his troubles was being taken into the Warp, where he stayed for God only knows how long until Galen's expedition found him, and that was by pure fluke. No wonder he's turned to Chaos — the sheer amount of shit he went through in the lead-up would break almost anyone.
Genius Bruiser: A follower of Chaos Undivided who worships Khorne above all others. (like Eliphas), a berserker, bloodthirsty... and an incredibly skilled strategist and self-disciplined in the extreme.
Glowing Eyes of Doom: He has a spooky set of glowing red eyes. Fitting for a follower of Khorne.
Greater-Scope Villain: Of Dark Crusade. Avitus, the canonical traitor of Chaos Rising, reveals Kyras relished in the slaughter carried out on Kronus, which paints the Blood Ravens' conflict with the Imperial Guard in a much darker light.
Hellfire: Much like Eliphas below, after he pledges himself to Khorne and becomes a Daemon Prince, many of his attacks involve warpfire. This includes meteorites, and breathing streams of flame.
Large Ham: So much so, that you literally feel you have been blasted by a hurricane! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!! LET... THE GALAXY... BUUUUUURRRRRRNNNNN!!!
Leaning on the Fourth Wall: His Motive Rant about the universe existing solely for mindless, purposeless bloodshed has some obvious meta-subtext given he lives in a fictional setting created to entertain the audience by focusing on war and constant battles. His statement that everyone will be slaughtered with no higher purpose than that Khorne will find it entertaining also features this, just swap "Khorne" for "the players."
Motive Rant: Before his ascension to daemonhood, he makes a speech to his followers about how the universe is fundamentally meaningless and it is only through brazen savagery and violence can they be freed of insubstantial concepts such as duty or purpose or innocence, honesty or deceitfulness.
Kyras: Faithful... enlightened... ambitious brethren. In but a single decade-a few mere swipes of the pendulum-we have gathered a sacrifice to Khorne that will be made legend. Though it was a simpler, weaker voice that illuminated me during my centuries upon the Judgment of Carrion, it was Khorne's messenger who showed me the true path of freedom from the pathetic corpse Emperor. And what is this path? This meaning, this purpose to which we gather the skulls of our foes? It is nothing. There is no meaning, no purpose. We murder. We kill. It is mindless savagery. This UNIVERSE is mindless. In mere hours, billions will die! Innocent! Guilty! Strong and weak! Honest and deceitful! ALL of them! They will scream, they will burn, and for no purpose but that mighty Khorne may revel in their bloodshed! And united in this void of purpose, fear, or duty, we shall at last be free! Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne! Let the galaxy BURN!
Meaningful Name: He has the same first name as an important figure in the Blood Raven's history: Chapter Master and Chief Librarian Azariah Vidya, the Great Father.
Mythology Gag: The last line of his ascension speech was basically taken from the Horus Heresy novels, more accurately the very tagline of the Arch-Traitor himself.
Obviously Evil: Once fully corrupted by the Maledictum, and upon becoming a Daemon Prince
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: He bound Ulkair, survived alone on a derelict, daemon infested Space Hulk for centuries and became Chapter Master of the Blood Ravens.
Old Soldier: He's likely over a thousand years old.
Omnicidal Maniac: So much during the latter stages of Retribution, as exemplified by his intro quote.
One-Man Army: When fought as a Daemon Prince. He's as big as an army and it takes an army to kill him.
One-Winged Angel: In the final mission, he transforms in a Daemon Prince.
Power Echoes: His voice is always with a reverb.
Psychic Powers: Which are so powerful that he can bring Eldar Warlocks and Autarchs to sheer agony through his telepathy and nothing else. And apparently, he can guide Hive Fleets.
Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: LET... THE GALAXY... BURRRRRNNNN!!!!
Red Eyes, Take Warning: His natural eye colour is red.
Shoulders of Doom: They only get bigger when he ascends to daemonhood.
Stationary Boss: He doesn't move. But he can still decimate your entire army handily.
Straw Nihilist: He states the universe is mindless savagery. And he couldn't care less.
True Final Boss: He serves as the final boss of Retribution and extension of II's story arc.
Villainous Breakdown: Generally averted when confronting the player in the final mission, though his tone of voice changes noticeable if you are playing as either the Orks or the Tyranids. While he is smug and sure of himself towards the others, these two races earn both his disbelief and ire.
Kyras: Hateful speck! Your death shall be legend! The Dark Gods themselves will shudder.
Kapt. Bluddflagg: Woohoohoo. Dat got 'im mad!
Walking Spoiler: He becomes a Khornate Daemon Prince and the game's main villain, making a lot of information about him spoilerrific.
Warrior Monk: Yep. He becomes an evil one later on.
We Can Rule Together:
- He extends this to Eliphas, who responds in a manner that can be politely summed up as "I am not to be bargained with".
- He also offers this to Diomedes before Typhon got exterminated, with Apollo's response being to thank him for revealing the corruption he had been so blind to.
Your Head A-Splode: How he dies. No matter what race the player is using, their ultimate attack always kills Kyras by exploding his entire head into smithereens.

Characters / Dawn of War: Blood Ravens

Characters introduced in the first Dawn of War series:

Characters introduced in Dawn of War II

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Characters / Dawn of War: Blood Ravens

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Characters introduced in the first Dawn of War series:

Characters introduced in Dawn of War II

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