Davian Thule
Captain Davian Thule is the leader of the Space Marine deployment, consisting of 3 companies including elements from the 1st Company, sent to Kronus in Dark Crusade; Captain Thule is deemed to be sharing the same ship (Litany of Fury) as Captain Gabriel Angelos once commanded in Dawn of War, but the whereabouts of the 3rd company commander is unexplained.
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Morga
When the Chaos witch Morga seduced the Planetary Governor of a once-prosperous and loyal Imperial colony, the Blood Ravens retaliated purging the world of all life. Morga however, survived. She proved to be a deadly foe and slew the Blood Ravens expedition leader and most of his staff. It was the young Initiate Davian Thule who ultimately killed her, proving his mettle early on.8
Cadia
Before the Kronus campaign, Davian Thule led the Blood Ravens 4th Company on Cadia. There, his men dropped on the Iron Warriors who were marching towards the city of Kasr Sonnen. The battle went heavily in the favour of the Blood Ravens. However, word came that the Black Legion was en route as well, and orders came down from the Chapter Master to withdraw. Thule resisted and pressed his advantages until the Chapter Master threatened to have him removed from command. Thule and the Blood Ravens left, leaving the Cadian Regiments to fend for themselves against the Black Legion.7
Kronus
When Captain Thule arrived on the Kronus, he sent an order to Governor-Militant Lukas Alexander to evacuate all civilians and Imperial Guard personnel as to allow the Blood Ravens to begin their purge of the planet. However, Alexander refused, which forced the Blood Ravens to fight the Imperial soldiers to achieve its objective. Thule regrets having to kill his fellow brothers-in-arms, but orders are orders - Kronus must be purged.
Aftermath (in-game)
When the Blood Ravens are victorious in Dark Crusade, they collect their spoils of war and preserve some of the Chapter's secrets on the planet. The Inquisition arrives to question their actions, but the commanding officers manage to finagle their way through the interrogations by claiming they were just 'following orders' from their Chapter Master. The narrator then states that the darkest time for the Chapter begins after they complete their Dark Crusade. The survivors of the shattered 1st Kronus Regiment bear a deep hatred for the Blood Ravens, even though Thule arranges safe transport for the Guardsmen who actually fought against his Marines, and Thule and the Blood Ravens Chaplain honour the dead body of Governor-Militant Lukas Alexander for following his orders so fervently. They also, however, execute every one of the soldiers of the 1st Kronus Regiment's 5th Company for their rebellion against the rest of the regiment.
Captain Thule and the Blood Ravens Second Company also succeeded in their mission to wipe out the Necrons of Kronus, with Thule personally planting the bomb deep within their catacombs beneath Thur'Abis Plateau. The Second Company later adopted the motto "Victory Over Death" in reference to this great victory.
Equipment (in-game)
Thule is armed with a standard-issue Chainsword and Bolt Pistol at the beginning of the Dawn of War campaign. When fully upgraded in the game, he carries a daemonhammer and meltagun, as well as wearing heavily ornate Artificer Armour, with a backpack-mounted teleporter.
Dawn Of War II
Thule had suffered grievous wounds in the final battle with the Necron Lord of Kronus, including the loss of his right eye. Nevertheless, he survived and led the Blood Ravens to victory in their campaign on Kronus.
Thule was made commander of Space Marine operations in Sub-Sector Aurelia and charged with protecting the Blood Raven recruiting worlds of Calderis, Typhon Primaris, and Meridian. Thule's men were at the forefront of the fighting on Calderis when the Tyranid swarm initially made planetfall. Holding the line at the cost of many of his men, Davian Thule was mortally wounded in the attack. While an Astartes would normally be able to recover from the types of wounds he sustained, a highly volatile Tyranid poison was ravaging his body which forced the fleet's Apothecarion to put Thule into stasis. The Force Commander is tasked with the duty of recovering samples from Tyranid capillaries that began forming all around the planets in the sector. With these samples, the Apothecarion is able to revive Davian Thule, albeit as a Dreadnought. For a short time, Thule's perception is hazy and he has trouble communicating with his fellow Blood Ravens, even mistaking Thaddeus for Gabriel Angelos. Eventually, Thule's memory becomes clear and he once more becomes an invaluable part of the Blood Ravens defending the sector.
Cyrus later reveals that Thule had found and read records of the Blood Ravens origins during the Kronus Campaign, but destroyed them. While it is likely that the documents did not reveal the corruption in the Chapter's ranks, the revelation that the Blood Ravens have possibly descended from a traitor Legion could potentially tear the Chapter apart.
In Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising, Thule has shown remarkable recovery and assumes a role akin to that of a mentor for the Force Commander and his squads. He recognises the danger of the taint of Chaos and does whatever he can to protect his battle brothers from corruption.
In the interests of canon lore, it is likely that Thule has attained the title of Venerable Dreadnought. Upgrading his Energy discipline will eventually grant this privilege.
Thule may have been killed or at the very least had his dreadnought armour critically damaged by Eliphas on Typhon. The two met in combat shortly before the Ordo Malleus arrived in the sector to begin Exterminatus.9
Equipment (In-Game)
In Dawn of War 2 before the Tyranids arrive and fatally injure him, he wields a heavy bolter and master crafted armour.
Sources
- 1 White Dwarf 295 (US) (August 2004) "Index Astartes – Blood Ravens". ISSN 0265-8712
- 2 White Dwarf 299 (US) (November 2004) "Index Astartes – Blood Ravens". ISSN 0265-8712
- 3 White Dwarf 305 (UK) "Index Astartes – Blood Ravens". ISSN 0265-8712
- 4 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War computer game and associated materials
- 5 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Dark Crusade computer game and associated materials
- 6 Tempest by C.S. Goto
- 7 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
- 8 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade found in the description of the map Fata Morga.
- 9 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution Chaos campaign first mission.
