Indrick Boreale
Something akin to the King James the VI of Warhammer 40K, Indrick Boreale is the Force Commander of the Blood Ravens Space Marines in the Dawn of War: Soulstorm campaign. Famous for his speech impediment and baldness and also famous for losing half of the Blood Raven's forces after he presumably got all 500 Space Marines killed on Kaurava. He is the origin of the terms Emprah and SPESS MAHRENS. According to Dawn of War II, he died in the Kaurava System during the events of Soulstorm, which some have interpreted as something of an apology from Relic for the terrible quality of the expansion.
Boreale Addressing His Troops
In a meeting between the Blood Ravens' finest Librarians and pious Chaplains, Captain Indrick Boreale requested from them a speech that would inspire his troops to victory, seeing that his original one was insufficient. While the 2 parties did make a glorious speech, Captain Boreale's ad-libs, mispronunciations and improvises virtually gutted the speech made by them.
Tehre is noh time to beh lohst!
Battle Brothars!
Spehss Mahrens, todeh the enemeh is at oua doar! We know oua duteh and we will do eet. We fight for our honor as Blod Rehvens,
as SPESS MAHRENS, and we fight in the nehme of the Empra!
And if we die this deh we die in gloareh, we die heroes' deffs, but we shall not die, no! It is the enemeh who will tehste deff
and defeat!
As you know! Moast of oua battle brothars are shtehtioned in SPEHSS, Pruhpeared to deep strike! Oua perimeter has been
pruhpeared in the even dat oua enehmies should be so bald and so foolish. We have plehced numerous beacons, allowing for
muhltiple, simuln-tehneous and devashtehting defensive deep strikes
The Codecks astartees nehmes this maneuvah Steel Rehn. We will descend upon the foe, we will ovawhelm them - we will leave none
alive! Meanwhile oua ground fawses will ensue the full defense of oua headkwaters
We are the spehss mahrens! WE ARE THE EMPRA'S FUREH!
Of course this is the edited version taught in the halls of recruits of young space marines. This was the original version found at his desk next to a pile of red and black crayons.
There is at our honor, as Blood Ravens, as space marines, and so foolish.
We are the emperor!
If we fight in glory.
We will descend upon the name of our headquarters.
We will descend upon the emperor's fury There is at our door.
We have placed numerous beacons, allowing for our honor, as Blood Ravens, as Blood Ravens, as Blood Ravens, as space marines,
and devastating defensive deep strike!
Our perimeter has been prepared in the event that our enemies should be lost!
Battle brothers; space prepared to deep strike!
Our perimeter has been prepared in the emperor!
If we fight in space, prepared to deep strikes.
The Codex Astartes names this maneuver steel rain.
We fight for multiple simultaneous and we fight for our door.
We are the emperor!
If we will overwhelm them, we shall not die.
No, it We fight for our honor, as space marines, and we fight for our battle brothers are stationed in the name of the emperor!
Codecks Indrick Boreale
After much petition to GW, they finally allowed Boreale to be a separate force commander. Stats:
Pts:90|WS:5|BS:5|S:4|T:5|W:2|I:3|A:5|Ld:10|Sv: 3+
Wargear:See Codex: Space Marines.
Special Rules
Deep strike beacons
Captain Boreale prefers to use multiple, simuln-tehneous and devashtating defensive deep strikes and so he carries a custom deep strike beacon into battle. All reinforcements using deep strike will not miss their intended location if it is 10 inches near Captain Boreale. In addition, the units that are deep striked as reinforcements can move and assault in their respective phases in the same turn they are deployed in the field.
Spehss Mehreens todeh the enemeh is at our doar!
Use during the start of the game. Ever is Captain Boreale the master of the obvious and so his army is alert, and so the player with Captain Boreale in their army will always get the first turn. If 2 Captain Boreales are present in the field, roll a higher number than your opponent.
Steel rehn
If Captain Boreale enters the field as reinforcements, he and his retinue must be deep striked into the field. While he may still miss the intended landing zone, he may move and assault in respective phases in the same turn he and his retinue are deployed.
We are the Empra's fureh!
Use during assault phase, use only if power weapon is equipped. Captain Boreale will attempt to overcharge his power weapon to it's limits, which will cause it to implode if not careful. If the player rolls 5+, Boreale and to any squad he is attached to gains +4 hits and +4 S and will also be fearless for 1 turn. If the player rolls a 3-4, Boreale and to any squad he is attached to will only gain +4 hits. If the player rolls 1-2 Boreale, his retinue and all the enemies engaged with him are removed from the field as casualties.
Independent Character
Captain Boreale is an independent character and follows all of the rules for characters in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook.
Leader
Boreale is an inspirational and lulzy leader of men and can join any squad except those wearing Terminator Armor or fast attack squads.
We die heroes' deffs but we shall not die no! It is the enemeh who will taste deff and defeat!
Use during assault phase. Captain Boreale and to the squad he is attached to will always attack first.
We have fehled....The EMPRAH!!
Should Captain Boreale be killed during Assault Phase, he will issue this final spontaneous and shocking battlecry that the squad/unit that killed him will be pinned for 1 turn regardless of their abilities that negates this effect.
How Boreale lost his "voice"
Scene starts as Thule defeats Gorgutz in Dark Crusade. Gorgutz flees the Green Beach and is currently on his Ork ship. Indrick Borale is in his personal Thunderhawk with Techmarine brother Spasmius heading towards the Litany of Fury. Brother Spasmius had an unclear mind due to seeing a daemonette on imperial television, and hence drove Brother Captain Boreale into Gorgutz' ship, looking for Gabriel Angelos.
Nob: Isn't that 'umie un of 'ose wez got trash'd up by? Gorgutz: Nah, that 'umie looks dumb, and 'ez talks funny too. Must be un of 'ose Chaos Boyz we'z stomped on. Nob: What shall we do boss? Stomp on 'im? Gorgutz: Move aside ya git. 'ez mine.
Gorgutz smashes up Boreale, leaving him with no teeth and a even more damaged brain. Boreale stumbles back into his thunderhawk, Gorgutz gleefully picking up his teeth.
"Brother Spessmius...Where are weh?"
Brother Captain Boreale's Bad Day
Boreale made doubly sure his armor was perfectly polished. He checked his sword scabbard and pistol holster. He fitted his Purity Seals on and ensured that his breastplate decorations were positioned correctly. He held his helmet under his arms. As he turned from his massive planning table, he checked his reflection in one of his other suits of Power Armour. Tall, large, inspiring. Perfectly presented, every inch an Imperial Space Marine.
His hair was still very short, but Boreale had begun to accept that. Even after two hundred years, his hair (or lack thereof) bothered him. But it wasn’t the worst thing. That would be his speech.
He had been fighting his speech for years. He was an inspirational speaker, able to turn his formidable speech-composition skills to demagoguery or fiery rhetoric. He always wrote and delivered his own speeches, and he strongly believed in the importance of words as an element of leadership. But he always struggled with the same thing:
Pronunciation. A more obdurate enemy than any he had ever faced.
He mouthed the words of his speech to himself, very softly, as he looked into his reflection on the chestplate of a Power Armour suit.
“Space Marines, today is the day…” the words came out very softly, but they were correct. Perhaps today WOULD be the day? Perhaps today he would get it right, and deliver the greatest speech of his entire illustrious career? He continued to practice: “today is the day we serve the…Empr-…Empera…Emperor. Tode-today…” He took a deep breath and started again:
“Today is the day we serve the Emperor by putting our lives, minds and souls in the line of duty in His name, and in service to the Imperium….”
He was doing well so far. Perhaps today would be the day indeed.
Confident with his initial success, Boreale straightened himself out to his full height of about nine feet. It had been only days since the attack on their Stronghold by the Sisters of Battle, where he had personally defeated Cannoness Agna in single combat. The woman had charged in towards him, full of righteous fury, and screaming a challenge. Meeting her with his own blade and screaming his own battle cry (it unfortunately came out as FOR THE EMPRA, in the heat of battle), Boreale had overwhelmed her with superior speed and strength, and she had fallen on her sword rather than let him strike the killing blow.
Regrettable that it came to fighting the Empe...Emperor’s servants as such, but necessary. Necessary for the survival of the Imperium and mankind, necessary to please the Emperor and the Unknown Primarch. Necessary. No, essential!
Boreale gritted his jaw, and corrected his sword one last time. It was time.
He stepped out onto the podium where hundreds of Blood Ravens stood assembled silently and unmoving, waiting for his words. He felt confidence fill him the likes of which he had never felt. Today would indeed be the day.
Boreale drew a deep breath.
“BROTHERS!”
…
“TODEH WE SERVE THE EMPRA!”
Some things just never changed.
Boreale in Therapy
"Space marines. Suh-Pay-Seh Ma-Reens. Space Marines," Brother Tullus nodded, "Now, you try."
"Sp-Sp-SPESS-"
"No, no, ACE. AAAACE."
"EHSSS"
"Ace."
"Ace."
"Good. Now say 'Spay."
"Spay."
"Now say both of them."
"Spay. Ace."
"And all together now."
"Sp-sp-spess."
Brother Tullus delicately plucked the spectacles from the bridge of his nose while the other massaged his much aching head, "No, no, Emperor damn it..."
"I have failed..."
"No, no, no Boreale you-" Tullus leaned back in the chair, as it cried out in protest, trying in vain to think of something-
"THE EMPRAH!"
He fell back out of his chair in surprise at the sudden exclamation.
Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale was but one of many held at the Mental Reclamation Convent of Saint Gimpus, and really, Tullus reflected as he righted his chair, one of the better behaved ones.
For instance, one cell over...
"METAL BAWKSES!" Came muffled through the wall, shaking the diplomas bespangling it.
STEEL REHN
Steel Rehn
Some steh dry and others feel the pehn
Steel Rehn
Landing drop pods makehs infernahl din
Steel Rehn**
Our eterhnel fureh strikes the hearts of mehn
Steel Rehn
Deep strikeh is our vehry own bent
Steel Rehn
No matteh how hard our enemeh’s try
Steel Rehn
They all see our reputashen is no lie
Steel Rehn
Forecast to be fallen yesterdeh
Steel Rehn
Yet it will likeleh also fall todeh
(Chorus)
Steel Rehn
We fall to earth at enormouehs rates
Steel Rehn
The Empra’s foes cannot stop ourh haet
[Repeat]
Steel Rehn
Our drop pods coveh the light of dehy
Steel Rehn
Our enemeh’s flee but there is no weyh
Steel Rehn
Fiereh blood rushing throuegh our vehns
Steel Rehn
Afteh we finish we prepare to fall back down agaihn
Steel Rehn
We are called dowehn by the radio
Steel Rehn
The purpose is to gain grouend controhl
Steel Rehn
We could not call it aneh otherh nayme
Steel Rehn
Everything else soundehd quite insayhn
Steel Rehn
We are preparing to fall onceh moreh now
Steel Rehn
The Empra will someday rewaredh us, somehow
Boreale stopped singing once he reached the end of what he had composed, and sat down silently, sitting his head in his hands. On paper, it was brilliant, a hymn that could be sung by billions of the Emperor’s servants across thousands of worlds in countless joyous anthems.
But what was the point if he couldn’t sing it properly himself?
YTP Indrick Boreale
On YouTube:
- Spess, Spess BAAAALLLDDDD
- dawn of awesome
- His original speech
- Captain Boreale finally got his own theme song
- Another version of Captain Boreale's speech
Boreale's previous service
Captain Boreale did actually serve back then as a Marine veteran sergeant during the Tartarus Campaign along with Captain Gabriel Angelos, back then his speech abilities were still heavily disabled due to a freakish power-fist incident with a 1st company veteran Terminator. His speech was mostly confined to screaming and a neural link with his troops. His task was to flank a horde of Orks with a tactical squad and a Predator Annihilator tank however found himself with large contingent of Orks planning the same. His force was pushed back under a highway with them holding the line as best they could with the Predator tank the only thing keeping the orks back, then however the orks started to employ artillery systems.
He requested for reinforcements from the Litany of Fury however the nearest Thunderhawk gunship was 10-15 minutes away and the only thing they could send at the moment was Brother Valek, a Dreadnought. The orks then got lucky and destroyed the Predator tank and then they started to rush Boreale's squad. Just then about to ready themselves for the assault, Brother Valek plummeted from the skies and provided support fire at the best possible time. Gabriel Angelos then advised Boreale to hold the line with the Dreadnought but Boreale did something bald and foolish: He stood up and yelled: AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!! which was actually "We are the Spehss mahreens! We are the Emprah's Fureh!" when heard in the marines' neural links. The tactical squad of 10 was ordered rush the Ork horde outnumbering them 10-1 along with the Dreadnought. Not wanting to disobey the tactics of their NCO, they did.
There was one surviving marine who commented: "We were on the way to being relieved and the dreadnought was enough to keep the foul greenskins at bay, and yet our Sergeant ordered us to rush the enemy with overwhelming numbers! It was a bloodbath with Sergeant Boreale leading the assault, then however an Ork attached a Tankbusta bomb on Brother Valek's dreadnought and it exploded, killing most of the marines and the orks though a sizable force of Orks did still remain. While the deep strikes and Thunderhawks were already being deployed from the Litany of Fury, Sergeant Boreale for some reason rushed up the fortified hill and planted the Chapter Banner on the top of the hill, while the company did admire the thought, it was a foolish move for the Sergeant. Sergeant Boreale suffered a deep wound when he was shot in the neck during his charge up the hill. While the chapter's Apothecaries were able to heal him they mentioned that even if the wound should heal, Sergeant Boreale would suffer from speech impairment for the rest of his life. He was absent from most of the Tartarus campaign due to the wounds he suffered.
For the live action movie of this even click: here.
Boreale's Death
The Lands of solitude were rocked by a titanic battle between Marine and Guardsman, it was a bloody gauntlet for both commanders. Shargent Harad, come in! Captain Boreale yelled on his vox, but alas to no avail: Sergeant Harad, who was guarding the outer perimeter defenses has fallen and even from the top of his citadel, Boreale could clearly see the column of Leman Russ and Baneblade tanks marching to his fortress. All of the Blood Ravens lined up for the final assault. The Crewmen of the Land Raiders and Predator tanks prayed to both the Emperor and the Machine Spirit for deliverance and protection, the Reclusiarch Chaplain gave a most wondrous and inspirational speech to the Marines with them foaming at the mouth with eagerness to kill the traitor guardsmen who dared desecrate their lands. Epistolary Saribander, Commander Boreale's second in command told the Captain: Everything is prepared my Lord and with that silently and slowly: Commander Boreale drew his Chainsword, loaded his Bolt Pistol and went out.
While numerically the Blood Ravens were defeated, they made up for it with great fervor and the fact they were fucking Catholic Space Nazis with enough plot armor to put DC comic characters to shame. The Marines lined up outside the fortress gates, from high ground they could see the legion of guardsmen and tanks headed their way but neither flinched, shook or broke a sweat, they knew this was their glorious end and they shall die honorably for the Immortal God-Emperor of man, their leader and father. Captain Boreale, the Epistolary and the Reclusiarch lined up in front of the men, ready for the fight of their lives....and their last one. Everyone was ready to charge just waiting for the Captain's word......closer and closer the Marines could feel the tanks' treads moving closer and in a split second Boreale ordered the charge with the battlecry: FOR TEH EMPRAH! And with that, a monumental bloodshed of biblical proportions started.
Bolter rounds and Lasbeams, the mighty cannons of the Baneblades targeted the holy Land raiders which the latter did the same. Screams were everywhere, the maddening battlecry of an Astartes riddled the guardsmen with fear but the Commissar solved that problem fairly easily. The battle eventually fell down to a bloody melee combat. BREAK THE ENEMY LI....., the Chaplain was cut short by a lascannon beam that tore right through his helmet, the marines while demoralized, kept fighting for they know their honor as a chapter was at stake. As the battle waged on, the ground was already colored blood red from the blood of both factions, however as their forces dwindled, the guardsmen kept coming, wave after wave of humble servants, never faltering, never ending. Captain Boreale saw that they were outnumbered and fell back to higher ground.
The Marines reluctantly fell back with the guard hot on their trail, the last of the company Terminators made planetfall as Captain Boreale's honor guard. Captain Boreale ordered his Epistolary to take a squad and cover their flanks, taking 5 squads of battle-brothers, the Librarian obliged while Captain Boreale held the front. After 3 hours which seemed like an eternity however, Epistolary Saribander's forces were nearly eradicated. The Emperor protects us all! he yelled with a soft tone, charging a line of guardsmen with the last squad of Marines. One by one they fell until only the Epistolary remained, he kept charging, not minding that he is the only one left. Lasbeam after lasbeam tore through his sacred armor until he could no longer charge, he could no longer run or live, crashing to the ground on his knees with a war-torn look, he fell flat on his face, his lifeless corpse on the ground.
Things were not looking up for Captain Boreale either, his forces were cornered already making their last stand. We fight to the last man brothers! A sergeant yelled to his compatriots, before being wiped out by a baneblade. We have fehled........THE EMPRAH. Captain Boreale shouted before being thoroughly riddled by a Kasrkin's hellgun. And with that, the Captain Boreale's 5 companies met their glorious end, their bodies later recovered by the Chapter's Apothecaries after General Vance Stubbs stabilized the planet.
Unsurprisingly, his death has now been confirmed in Dawn of War II. The Kaurava System campaign is remembered with shame and epic failure by the rest of the Blood Ravens with even Cyrus commenting on it being because of "the incompetence of Indrick Boreale."