Codex: Fighting Tigers of Veda (pg 16)
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Fighting Tiger Special Characters
I've never been a big fan of special characters, but a lot of players love using them (although, I've noticed, it's usually not for the "character" part as it is for the "special" part, i.e., the "special" rules these superheroes have). Still, every army has to have some personalities in it, so in creating them I've focused on the "character" aspect. These characters don't have special rules built into them, so, like the rest of the Fighting Tigers, you can use them in any battle without any fuss.
 

Shiva the Destroyer formerly Maharaja Shiva Nagordarika, Founder and Chapter Master of the Fighting Tigers

Founder and Chapter Master Shiva Nagordarika had ruled Veda and the Fighting Tigers for over eight hundred years when he and his forces were lured into a trap and ambushed by the Warband Bloodcomet. Singled out and easily hacked down by a summoned Bloodthirster of Khorne, the once-mighty Founder of the Fighting Tigers literally fell without firing a shot.

Surya Ashoka, then Raja of Mahaduyana, placed Shiva’s body in a special suit of Dreadnought armor and had it painted white (the Vedic color of death) with black stripes. (Note that this event occurred before the Tigers of Kali were created and that the White Tiger, Shiva’s personal Land Raider, was also painted white with black stripes. This has confused some to believe that Shiva was female.) Shiva lived on, now known as Shiva the Destroyer.

Shiva’s personality has changed profoundly. Like other Space Marine Old Ones, Shiva spends months, years, decades standing motionless in his stasis chamber in Mahaduyana, deep in a trance-like state the Tigers call nirvana. Unlike other Dreadnoughts, Shiva alone chooses when—and why—he will rouse, move and act. No one has ever succeeded in invoking Shiva the Destroyer against his will.

When Shiva does act, he does so swiftly and deliberately, never speaking to anyone. Fighting Tiger tradition forbids any of them from hindering their Founder; after Shiva wakes, he is constantly followed by the Master of the Forge, who reports his activities and possible motivations directly to the Raja of Mahaduyana.

Shiva is still officially Maharaja, or Chapter Master, but in his debilitated state, the Fighting Tigers are actually led by the two Rajas, or Caste Commanders. Each Raja rules not only their half of the Chapter but also the native people living on their respective continent. The two Rajas regularly confer on issues affecting the Chapter as a whole and together guide the Chapter until (it is hoped) the day Shiva resumes his duties.  As the centuries pass, this becomes increasingly unlikely.

A Fighting Tiger army may be joined by Shiva the Destroyer. If you decide to take him then he counts as one of the Elite choices for the army. Shiva is a Venerable Dreadnought armed with an assault cannon, heavy flamer, and Dreadnought close combat weapon. 
 

Technically, Khandar Madu's title is rani, the feminine form of raja. She uses the masculine title in deference to tradition, as all of the rulers of Mahaduyana before her were male.

Raja Khandar Madu's closest advisor is Zaghnal Maratha, the seniormost Tiger of Brihaspati in the Chapter. Raja Khandar appears in the Blood Deserts of Auros IX Campaign  as well as the short stories Dharma and Tigers Eternal.  Since Shamshir Talatra's dismissal and replacement by the less-experienced Chandramatie Bahl, she has expanded her authority and reorganized many sections of the Chapter, gathering the finest personnel under her and re-assigning less-skilled Marines. It remains to be seen whether these actions are meant merely to better run the Chapter until a suitable replacement for Shamshir Talatra can be found, or if they are part of a plan to consolidate all power under her and do away with the two-regent system that has been in place for millennia. 

Raja Khandar Madu is a Chapter Master who uses two lightning claws. She sometimes uses Terminator armor.
 

Eventually, Shamshir's unconventional--indeed, reckless--leadership style grated on Raja Khandar Madu and Shamshir's advisor, the Tiger of Varuna Talwar Chakram. After the disastrous events described in the story Traveller of Both Time and Space,  he was removed from office, the first Raja ever to be demoted, and expelled from the Fighting Tigers. He has founded a renegade army called the Fearful Symmetry.

For the time being, the Librarian Chandramatie Bahl rules Ghuyarashtra as Acting Co-Regent. 

Chandramatie Bahl
Tiger of Brihaspati and Acting Caste Commander and Ruler of Ghuyarashtra
Chandramatie Bahl was trained to be a Librarian by Zaghnal Maratha. Proving herself to be skilled, wise, and a good leader, she quickly earned a name for herself and was assigned to accompany Shamshir Talatra on his mission to destroy a contingent of Red Corsairs. Shamshir led his detachment into disaster, and only he and Bahl survived. When Shamshir was removed from office, Chandramatie Bahl was elevated to serve in his place. She does not have the desire or training to serve as Raja indefinitely, and the search for a permanent is ongoing. 

Chandramatie Bahl is a regular Librarian (not an Epistolary) who uses a jump pack. 
 

The White Tiger oldest surviving Fighting Tiger vehicle, originally used as Shiva Nagordarika’s command vehicle

The White Tiger was originally Shiva's command vehicle and was painted white, the Vedic color of death. In deference to Shiva it is kept in storage and only used as heavy support in major battles. Sometimes especially honored squads are allowed to ride into battle aboard the White Tiger. This is the only Fighting Tiger Land Raider to have survived the onslaught of the Warband Bloodcomet and has been nearly destroyed and subsequently repaired countless times over the centuries.

A Fighting Tiger army may include the White Tiger. If you decide to take it then it counts as one of the Heavy Support choices for the army. 
 
 

Next page (pg 17): Other Fighting Tiger Special Characters Previous page (pg 15): Painting Fighting Tiger Vehicles

Related Pages
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
Other Fighting Tiger Special Characters 
Both Rajas appear in the Blood Deserts of Auros IX Campaign
Raja Khandar appears in Dharma and Tigers Eternal
Tactics: Fighting Tiger HQ
Codex Main Page and Table of Contents
 

Last updated December 2008
Codex: Fighting Tiger logo (GW style) by Jason Foley 

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