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OK over the time of being here I have started various threads, lots of unfinished and abandoned projects. the one constant has been my love for the Dark Angels and my own Successors which themselves has took various twists and turns. They started as the Blades of Altena, then the Blades of Alaric then to the Consecrated Blades, back to Alaric now back to Consecrated Yeah I know make up my mind. I named them Alaric by pure chance I didn't actually know there was a planet called Alaric in 40k, so by calling them that it makes them sound like they are from there which I think in my background causes some confusion, I have always tried to keep my background safe from encroaching on anything GW do. So to this end I have changed them permanently to the Consecrated Blades which I think most of you will agree is a more Dark Angels/Unforgiven name. Logo.... Well this was another sticking point for me for so long, I went down the custom transfers route with little success. I have also dabbled with the shapeways icons, as much as I like them I always thought they were just a little too thick so I was never 100% happy so to that end I am going for simple and easy (K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple stupid) and using the Dark Angels symbol. Current painted models of the new stuff Chapter Organization Index Astartes

The Angels of Penance "The measure of true glory is not to give battle in the bright noon of war, surrounded by brave comrades upon the field of victory, but to valiantly fight on alone in the darkness, with no hope of aid or even remembrance, and to spit defiance in midnight's eye" Lion El'Jonson, Reflections on the Mirror of War, Vol III Overview The Angels of Penance are a Second Founding Chapter of the Dark Angels Legion. Formed from the Assault cadres of the I Legio, the Chapter displays a more bellicose outlook compared to their fellow Unforgiven, prefering to engage the enemy in close quarters hit and run assaults rather than stubbornly hold a gun-line. Known to deploy seasoned battle-brothers in formations akin to the Breacher Siege Squads of the Legiones Astartes or as well equipped 'Vanguard' jump pack Assault Squads, alongside fielding their 1st Company almost exclusively in ancient Cataphractii-Pattern Terminator Armour, it is rumoured that the Angels of Penance are the inheritors of the traditions and arms of the 'Stormwing' formation of their Legion predecessors. ”Of all the Primarchs, save perhaps Mortarion, Lion El'Jonson stands apart. Partially this is due to his taciturn nature -- a brooding silence hangs over him at all times. Yet there is something more...something buried beneath his noble exterior. Perhaps this is a result of his upbringing, growing to maturity alone in the monster-ridden forests of Caliban. Even at a council of war, the Lion moves like an apex predator. He is always watching, always planning, always hunting. He unnerves even his brothers.” Malcador the Hero History Grand Master Ishmael, Chapter Master of the 5th Chapter, 1st Host during the Thramas Crusade Origins The Angels of Penance can trace their history back to the days of the Great Crusade and the 5th Chapter of the Dark Angels Legion. Following the principles of the Hexagrammaton, the Chapter was manned by Legionaries inducted into one of the six 'Wings' of specialist doctrines, giving it the flexibility to operate in a variety of theatres. Initially unremarkable with its compliance to this standard, it was during the Thramas Crusade that the 5th, by this point under the command of Grand Master Ishmael, began to diverge from its brothers. A native of Caliban, Ishmael was one of the many young aspirants claimed during the Lion's campaigns of subjugation against the other Knight Orders on the planet and raised up as an Astartes upon the Emperor's arrival. A choleric individual by nature, Ishmael was known to keep his own company during the rare periods of downtime, but in the heat of battle he could unleash a primal fury so fierce that many of his peers began to compare him to the old Beasts of Caliban. It wasn't long before this young Astartes caught the eye of the Terran Commanders of the old 'Storm Host', a void warfare specialist formation founded by the Emperor Himself during the Legion's inception, who saw value in channelling his rage in a useful manner. Demanding absolute focus and dedicated preparation in order to deliver a few moments of absolute brutality at key breach points, the 'Storm Host's' way of battle was the perfect fit for the 'Dark Child' of Caliban. By the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, Ishmael had successfully climbed to a senior position within the Legion as the 5th Chapter's Master. In addition, he also often served as the Field Commander of his 'Stormwing' brothers (as the Lion had renamed them) whenever the 1st Host required their void warfare expertise. Learning from experiences gained during earlier campaigns, such as the Third Rangdan Xenocide and the Pacification of Kelrecht, the Grand Master made efforts to co-operate with those members of his Chapter from the other Wing hosts in order to best support, and exploit, the efforts of his Stormwing Breachers. Such close co-operation would soon pay off as the I Legio were thrown into conflict with the Night Lords in the Thramas Crusade. In the 2 year engagement, and utilising the newly formed combined-arms tactics, Ishmael reaped a bloody toll upon the traitor Astartes. Cataphractii Terminator formations used their enhanced armour and shielding to support their Breacher brothers in boarding actions, jump pack equipped assault marines brought Stormwing close quarters tactics upon enemy fortifications on planets while Ravenwing and Firewing inducted initiates gave valuable intelligence to the 5th, while sowing seeds of disruption in the Night Lord ranks. Thanks to these efforts, Ishmael successfully made the case for implementing Terminator and Jump Pack assault formations within the Stormwing doctrine itself, enhancing the Host's capabilities in a wider range of theatres. With these changes, Ishmael's Chapter continued to serve admirably through the rest of the Horus Heresy, and up until the Fall of Caliban. Luther's betrayal and the loss of the Lion hit the 5th Chapter hard. The majority of the Chapter by this time were Caliban born, and the destruction of their planet in the wake of having to fight their own brothers left the Astartes lost and shaken to their core. Additionally, the failure of the I Legio to reach Terra in time further added to the sense of shame that was beginning to envelope the Sons of the First. Swearing grave oaths of vengeance, Ishmael rallied his brothers, stating that they will find redemption in the purging of their fallen cousins in the Scouring. Painting over their armour in Lightning Yellow, these Pentitant Angels vowed to be the Emperor's storm of fury against all those that had betrayed Him, knowing no forgiveness till all had been slain or brought to heel. Traditionally, it is this moment that the Chapter's Librarium records consider the Founding of the Chapter as its own entity. In the Post-Scouring era, the Chapter would suffer yet another blow to their honour, with the death of Grand Master Ishmael. It was at the Battle of Vigrid's Fall that the venerable Chapter Master faced off with an old rival from the Night Lords, Praetor Jago Terask of the "Fangs of the Father" warband. Challenging him in single combat, Ishmael fought with all the fury of the Lion, relentlessly raining blows upon his sworn foe. In the throes of righteous fury, the Grand Master unleashed a decapitating strike, but left himself open to Terask's counter. Impaled upon the lightning claws of the Son of the Night Haunter, Ishmael breathed his last, dying even as his Calibanite warsword sliced clean through the traitor's neck plate. His arms and armour would later be recovered and repaired, but the precious geneseed Ishmael carried in his chest was forever lost. In the aftermath of the Battle of Vigrid's Fall, the Chapter suffered nearly two company's worth of marines KIA, a devastating event that would start an unresolved blood-feud between the Angels of Penance and the Fangs of the Father that continues to this day. Since that fateful day, the Angels of Penance have continued to be at the forefront of conflicts against Heretic Astartes. It was they among the Unforgiven who first engaged in a shadow war against the Ur-Council during the Nova Terra Interregnum, fielding their 1st, 2nd and 10th Company assets in upmost secrecy to investigate rumours of a Fallen among the secessionists leadership. It was they who answered the summons of the High Lords during the Wrath of The Chaos Sun alongside the Grey Knights, Sisters of Battle and a dozen other Astartes Chapters. Fielded in full Chapter strength, the Angels of Penance aggressively struck out against the Daemon and the Heretic plaguing the Imperium's domain, a feat they repeated during the dread days of the 13th Crusade. Heavily depleted from the battles around the Cadia system, and the birth of the Great Rift, the Angels of Penance none the less joined their brothers from the Unforgiven in the landings on the Shrine World of Darkmor, contributing 200 marines and a small detachment of veterans from the 1st and 2nd companies. Lead into a trap, the strike force found itself cut off and surrounded by the forces of Chaos on the planet as Warp Storms erupted around them in the void. Fighting bitterly alongside their brothers, the Angels of Penance spent their lives buying time for elements from the Consecrators and the Angels of Vengeance to hunt down Cypher. Not a single marine from the Chapter's contribution returned, once against bringing the Chapter to the brink of being written off. In the aftermath of Darkmor, the Angels of Penance answered Azrael's summons, taking the risky journey to the Rock to participate in the largest summons of the Unforgiven since the Scouring. Already one of the most badly mauled Chapters from the Lion's geneline, Grand Master Khamael fully expected to be ordered to dissolve his forces and to have his brothers spread out among the other Successors badly wounded by the 13th Crusade. Not willing to accept that fate, the venerable Chapter Master had already resolved instead to lead his brothers in a defiant crusade against the heretics, unwilling to let Azrael and the other Grand Masters see the Sons of the Stormwing fade from the annals of history without a chance of final redemption. His penultimate sacrifice was not needed, however, as the arrival of the XIIIth Primarch Guilliman and Cawl's Primaris Marines brought the severely wounded members of the Unforgiven a reprieve. Alongside the Consecrators, the Guardians of the Covenant and the Angels of Vengeance, Grand Master Khamael passionately lent his voice in support of accepting these new Primaris Marines into their ranks, and pledged his entire Chapter to Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade. Replenished with fresh manpower, Khamael made no hesitation in mobilising against Abaddon's forces once more. Following the strategic objectives outlined by the Lord Regent and the Inner Circle's war council, the Chapter struck out at Heretic Astartes formations and Dark Mechanicus installations along the Cicatrix Maledictum. Forging bonds in the fires of these conflicts, the newly inducted Greyshields of the Chapter quickly integrated into the Chapter's unique methods of war. Infiltrator units operated as the Chapter's eyes and ears, pinpointing targets for Incursor and Assault Squad formations to strike. Aggressors worked alongside Breacher formations in siege and void warfare, contributing massive suppressive firepower to allow their shielded brethren to advance. Deploying from Thunderhawk strikecraft, or Repulsor transports, Hellblaster and Intercessor squads created mobile firebases, acting as anchor points for further aggressive advances and living up to the history of Combined Arms warfare espoused by the Chapter's first Grand Master. Satisfied with such progress, Khamael lent his voice to others in arguing for the Primaris Marine's induction into the 1st and 2nd Companies of the Unforgiven, particularly emphasising the usefulness of a dedicated light infantry force under the Ravenwing doctrine, using the Dark Angels' own relatively recent experience of utilising dismounted Ravenwing marines against Deathguard forces. Unknown to his fellow Masters and Grand Masters, however, Khamael had already placed the standing Vanguard force (nominally part of the 10th company) under the command of the Master of the Second, pre-empting Azrael's decree that Primaris be inducted into the Death and Ravenwing forces. Reorganised, reinforced and reinvigorated, the Angels of Penance continue to be the Lion's Wrath against the Fallen and the Traitor, their Orche armour the flash of lighting of the Emperor's Storm against all whom have betrayed His trust. Organisation Sergeant Rafael, 7th Squad 5th Company, assaulting a position, M38 The Angels of Penance are organised along the same general lines as the rest of the Unforgiven. The 3rd through 10th Companies remain organised broadly within the tenants of the Codex Astartes, but the Chapter continues to specialise in boarding actions and lightning assaults of fortified positions. Boarding shields continue to be routinely issued to Tactical Squads, and the veteran brothers within a given Company are often collated into ad-hoc formations functionally similar to the old Breacher Squads of the Legiones Astartes. Armed with the finest Combi-Weapons available, and equipped with Aegis-Shielding enhanced boarding shields, these Veteran units often form the initial thrust to an assault on enemy warships. When breaching skills are not called upon, or the battle is on a more open field, instead these ad-hoc veteran units are often granted jump packs and power weapons, bringing their close quarters methods of war right up to the enemy's line as quickly as possible. Master Boriel the Oathsworn of the 1st Company Similar to other Unforgiven Chapters, the Angels of Penance make use of Codex-Divergent formations in the 1st and 2nd Companies. All members of the 1st are inducted into the Chapter's Inner Circle, privy to the secrets of Luther's betrayal of the Lion. Following their preference for massed close in assaults, the Chapter goes to extreme lengths to obtain, and maintain, the use of Cataphractii pattern Terminator armour. Favouring the now almost obsolete model's superior shielding compared to Indomitus, the Angels appear to be successful in their endeavours, keeping their entire 1st Company equipped along this line. Within the 1st Company, the Angels of Penance also maintain a formation similar to the Deathwing Knights. Known as the Knights Cenobium, this formation appears to have its roots right back to the Great Crusade, and its membership is open only to the most skilled (and trust worthy) members of an already veteran Company. Lead by the "Master of the First", who continues to bear the arms and armour of the Chapter's founder as a badge of office, this Company brings the Lion's judgement upon all traitors of the Imperium. Members of the 1st are also frequently seconded to Battleline companies as Veteran Sergeants or Lieutenants, giving the other Masters a cadre of experienced and trustworthy officers to both lead, and monitor, those brethren uninitiated in the Chapter's deepest secrets. During such periods, these veterans may wear their Terminator Honours on their shoulder pad and bring their suits of Terminator Armour with them to the Company, so that any task force of the Angels of Penance will always have a small reserve of Inner Circle warriors to apprehend Fallen and Traitor Astartes without exposing the line brothers. The 2nd Company retains the reconnaissance elements of the old 5th Chapter of the 1st Legion. While the majority of the 2nd are equipped along the same lines as the rest of the Unforgiven, utilising Biker and Speeder formations, the Angels of Penance have also begun to induct select Vanguard units of Primaris marines into this Company. Following the same dogma as the old Firewing, these specialist squads operate behind enemy lines, assassinating commanders and disrupting communications, while providing an internal light infantry force capable of holding ground taken by their mounted brethren. Going right back to the days of Grand Master Ishmael, the Angels of Penance continue to display a willingness to utilise combined arms tactics, and diverge from the template of their brother-Chapters, in order to better execute a campaign of redemption upon the enemy. The elites of the 2nd Company, inducted into the Chapter's Inner Circle, are known as the Knights Penitum, and are armed in the same manner as the Ravenwing Knights of their forebearers. Homeworld and Recruitment As a fleet based Chapter, the Angels of Penance consider their Fortress Monestry to be the flagship of the fleet, the Battle Barge "Emperor's Storm". With Millenia of upgrades and retrofitting, the Emperor's Storm has almost reached Gloriana Class levels of size and firepower, capable of holding up to 500 marines and all respective equipment at a time. It also includes on-board forges, craft bays and the various headquarters of the Specialist Officers of the Reclusiarch, Librarium and the Apothecarium. Companies 3-9 each possess a single strike cruiser, while Companies 1 and 2 possess a more conventional Battle Barge and 2 Strike Cruisers each, due to their nature as a more scattered force. A further 5 Strike Cruisers remain as a strategic reserve, staffed by select members of the 3rd Company in their Master's role as Master of the Fleet, alongside dozens of smaller support destroyers and frigates manned by Chapter Serfs. This gives the Chapter a strong Void presence, fitting for the inheritors of the Stormwing doctrine. Recruitment and resupply comes from the Unforgiven's network of tithe worlds and scattered orbital and asteroid stations, official ownership of each rotated between the various Chapters to obscure Administratum records. The Angels of Penance additionally also engage in enforced tithing of suitable planets during campaigns should losses sustained be particularly high, earning the enmity of many other Imperial subjects as their young men and material are taken away at gunpoint by the Angels' Thunderhawk Gunships. Heraldry Company Veteran Sulla of the 6th Company, 2nd squad, M42 The Angels of Penance heraldry consists of Ochre yellow armour. The Chapter badge, Aquila and other details are black, in commemoration of their roots as members of the original 1st Legion. Marines that have served as part of ad-hoc veteran squads within the Battle line Companies are further entitled to paint the trim of their shoulder pads red, or display chequer patterns, another echo of their ancestral roots to the Great Crusade. Squad battlerole, squad number and company markings remain the same as other members of the Unforgiven. The 1st Company Heraldry is modified slightly, with the lower set of Cataphractii pauldrons always painted red to indicate veterancy, and the Helms left original Legion black. The 2nd Company reverses this, wearing all black armour, but leaving the helmet yellow. Again, veteran members of the 2nd can display red shoulder trim and/or chequering. Beliefs The Angels of Penance are, along with the Angels of Vengeance, among the most zealous members of the Unforgiven when it comes to the Hunt, deploying in large strength at the merest rumour of the presence of a Fallen. However, in addition to those wayward Calibanites who followed Luther, the Angels of Penance also seek to bring the Lion's judgement upon all other Traitor Astartes as well. Having operated on the front lines of their Primarch's campaigns against the Traitor Legion's home worlds during the Horus Heresy, and scarred by their failure to reach Terra in time to stop the Warmaster mortally wounding the Emperor, the Chapter believes that ultimate redemption is only possible when each and every Traitor Astartes has been destroyed or made to repent for their sins. This fierce quest for redemption has often lead to the Chapter becoming severely depleted, especially when coupled with the Angels' more forward and aggressive methods of battle. Fallen brothers captured by the Chapter are, as a matter of course, transferred to the Rock for imprisonment should the Chapter's own Interrogators prove unable to extract a confession, while other Traitors are held deep within stasis cells aboard the Chapter's Fortress Monestary, the Battle Barge "Emperor's Storm". Still bearing their grief and shame openly with their Cognomen, these Penitent Sons of Caliban also avoid contact with all outsiders, engaging in campaigns against their enemies without even so much as identifying themselves or their areas of operation to any save their fellow Unforgiven. Furthermore, their drive, along with the requirements of the Hunt, causes the Chapter to only rarely answer summons or requests for assistance against Xenos incursions, as they prefer to direct their efforts against the forces of Chaos and other Renegades - which isolates them even further from the rest of the Imperium. Even within the secret brotherhood that spans across the Successors of the 1st Legion, the Chapter uniquely keeps its own council, paying lip service to the wider Inner Circle and the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels at best. The Angels of Vengeance appear to be the only other Successor that might be considered a close Ally, regularly deploying alongside their ochre painted brothers in crusades of Retribution. When it comes to their considerable mortal assistance, the Angels of Penance have a distant relationship with their Chapter Serfs. While not treating them as slaves, the Chapter is noted for behaving almost as if these individuals do not exist, barely recognising their existence. For their lot, the Serfs endeavour to ensure the Astartes needs are fulfilled without the Marines even needing to ask. Most interaction between mortal servants and the Chapter comes through the fleet, with Serf crew members taking orders from an Angels of Penance officer appointed as Ship Captain. In exchange for such thankless service, the Serfs are granted relatively generous living quarters, equipment and rations where they can be granted compared to many Astra Militarum regiments, and humbly accept these good graces with the same stoicism as their overlords. Alone, the Angels of Penance gladly march into the most thankless of battles, seeking no glory or plaudits, content merely in bringing themselves closer to forgiveness one Traitor at a time. Quotes "Do not take me for one of your serfs, Azrael. I answer this summons as a courtesy, brother, but I will not have my authority undermined by this Council. You may advise us of targets to consider, but it is I who will decide where our hammer blow lands!" Grand Master Khamael rebuking Supreme Grand Master Azrael "Brothers. It is said our greatest shame is the existence of the Fallen, those wayward brothers of ours who followed Luther into damnation and escaped our judgement. I disagree. Our greatest shame is failing to have destroyed all those who have spat upon their oaths to the Emperor in the Scouring, brother or otherwise, and this new age of darkness is testament that our penance is not yet complete." Master of the Reclusiarch Jehoel's sermon to the veterans of the 1st Company, prior to the ill fated assault on the "Blade of Night" M42

Heritage: Successors of the Dark Angels Founding: 3rd Founding Homeworld: Iritral, Delta-Class World (Dead World) Fortress Monastery: Aeterna Vigilantia (Located in the Ashen Wastes of Iritral) Descendants: None Read Here in a more comfortable Black Book Format: https://imgur.com/a/9kBlHQV Introduction As an ancient chapter that hails from the 3rd Founding, the Angels of Annihilation can count themselves amongst the most ancient and revered chapters to exist in this current day and age. Founded directly after the successful subjugation of the Laploemian Sector to ensure permanent imperial control, the chapter’s name came to be by the choice of their first Chapter Master, a former Angels of Vengeance Captain named “Pyriel” that was chosen to supervise and lead the fledgling chapter. Renowned for the merciless and righteous purgation of his foes, legends say that Pyriel let not a single enemy stand, regardless if they were soldiers or civilians, let alone let them escape the vengeful retribution the Imperium would bring. Despite eventually being slain himself, his legacy was never forgotten as it was successfully passed on. To this day, his teachings continue to shape each Space Marine inducted into the chapter. The chapter was born from the genetic legacy of none other than Lion El’Jonson, the Primarch of the venerable 1st Legion. As such, the chapter was blessed with a very pure and unmutated gene stock, still closely linking them to the Dark Angels to this day. However, this is not the only way that these two chapters are strongly tied together. The chapter is also part of the Unforgiven and bears the many secrets that come with this fact as a result. The hunt for the Fallen remains amongst one of the most important and yet most secretive objectives that the Unforgiven have to continuously tackle. The chapter has earned a reputation for being secretive and reclusive, similar to the many other Sons of the Lion. However, the reports of those that fought alongside the Angels of Annihilation and survived have described them as being dependable, tenacious and awe-inspiring warriors despite their cynical tendencies, who continue to fight even against the most perilous of odds and the overwhelming darkness of despair-filled battlefields. In complete contrast to the Angels of Redemption, the chapter never once completely abandoned its allies, choosing to split its forces apart and fighting with decreased numbers if the need arises, for reasons unknown to those not aware of the chapter’s history. This has nevertheless resulted in them being reprimanded by their primogenitor on several occasions, though both their loyalty to the Imperium and to the secret agenda of the Unforgiven remains ultimately unquestioned. Homeworld History Iritral was the last world that offered resistance against the Imperial forces during the Laploemian Subjugation, with the Angels of Vengeance contributing an exceptionally great portion to its success, earning the Dark Angel’s lineage a further right of succession by the end of their conquest. populated by both a squalid human and a prosperous xenos population. Tensions between these unalike races were high and several disputes had erupted into full-fledged wars in the past already, but the humans were never able to overthrow the aliens, let alone free themselves from their controlling grip. This unsightly race saw itself as the destined rulers of the planet, but their rule would end in an inglorious massacre, their name, appearance and deeds forgotten, their existence only made apparent by brief passages, scattered across the historical documents of the chapter. It is told the planet was described as quite beautiful in its appearance and possibly could have fit the description of a so-called “Paradise World” in the past, were it not for the Laploemian Subjugation that turned the planet into a mere shadow of its former self. Much of its natural beauty was lost and sacrificed in the battles that ensued to free the humans from the grip of the vile aliens. However, the young chapter had no interest in assisting the human population, choosing to only focus on their own growth and the duties that they would have to fulfill, for there was little reason for most Astartes chapters to bother with the needs of their homeworld’s population. The struggling humans, unable to keep up with their own basic needs, slowly came to resent their so-called “Angels” and many would begin to walk the path of damnation out of vengeance and spite, for they thought they had been abandoned by the promised light of the Emperor. The hatred seeped deep into the minds of most people, as they began to conspire against the chapter and by extension, the Imperium, with what little resources they had. The attempt was never made, however, as the Librarian’s prognostications foresaw this simple-minded betrayal. Upon hearing the news, several civilians were simply abducted by the chapter’s Interrogator Chaplains to make them confess their crime and to gather more detailed information on the attempted uprising. It turned out that too many civilians harbored corrupted thought, many actively participating in the preparations for the rebellion while many more simply supported the notion and made no efforts to intervene. Both were equally seen as treacherous actions. Thus there remained but one verdict to be issued, approved ultimately by none other than Chapter Master “Rezan Salrich” himself: Annihilation. With not enough time and information at hand to be able to make an effective distinction between the few remaining loyalist citizens and the treacherous majority, the chapter, at the behest of the Interrogator Chaplains’ advice, could not possibly spare anyone’s life. Cities and villages were both indiscriminately bombarded from orbit by the chapter’s fleet as the entire population was to be subjected to a thorough purge. That day nobody had the honour to die directly by the hands of the Astartes, the population’s demise was simply carried out from orbit. To those that were unfortunate enough to be the target of the chapter’s wrath, it seemed like the heavens themselves turned wrathful at the thoughts they had and no amount of pleading would earn their forgiveness. All that would be left afterward was a planet covered in dark ashes. Life had been eradicated and the only place where life still existed was the chapter’s Fortress Monastery, which survived the indiscriminate bombardment thanks to its shields. But this act, this atrocity, would affect the chapter in more ways than one. Despite their transhuman nature, the Astartes still felt a mixture of disgust and sorrow at the actions taken, for many of the Astartes were born on this world and were related to those very humans they incinerated. Though each Battle-Brother experienced those feelings at varying degrees, nobody was able to truly support the actions taken. Even the cold and fearsome Interrogator Chaplains, infamous for their willingness to go any length to ensure the Unforgiven’s secret agenda and their chapter’s future, could not help but feel an unpleasant aftertaste. Rezen Salrich condemned the actions that the chapter had to take. While he was aware they were necessary and he himself had not hesitated to give his verdict, the outcome of the situation would have been completely avoided if the chapter assisted the people of their homeworld instead of ignoring them outside of recruitment purposes. Though any guilt and accusations from external factions were quickly disproven with the evidence of confessions, the Chapter themselves have held onto the memory of their failures far longer than the greater Imperium. While they may not have changed their name or their colour scheme, retaining both over their countless millennia of service, their own beliefs did change dramatically. Never would they repeat the mistake of ignoring and abandoning their allies ever again. They would not allow those on humanity’s side to suffer despair or harbour treacherous thoughts regardless of the time and place, even if it meant the sacrifice of each Battle-Brother to accomplish that. This would be their way to atone for their deed. Annihilation with a greater purpose than mere satisfaction of having slain the emperor’s foes. How exactly these treacherous thoughts came to remain largely unclear to this day, as more modern accounts do not detail the intricacies behind the uprising. Some ancient documents actually suggest the idea that it was the influence of an external force that implanted those seditious thoughts into the humans of Iritral. The confessions from men that have long since perished kept referring to a group of mysterious individuals that apparently were at the center of it all. Describing them as tall-standing, hooded individuals who never revealed their faces, it has been suggested that the original perpetrators of the rebellion were indeed not even human in nature, but instead were a surviving cult consisting of members that belonged to the original native xenos species of Iritral that was thought to have been completely wiped out. While no exact conclusion can be drawn due to how no detailed accounts were ever made, the mere thought and possibility that it was the work of vengeful xenos that brought about the end of the world’s human population has enraged many within the chapter and has only served as further reasoning as to why no single alien should be given the right to live and how no survivors must remain once a foe has been successfully defeated. Aeterna Vigilantia Despite committing a planet-wide cleansing campaign that reduced much if not the entire planet to mere cinders, the chapter refused to abandon their homeworld, choosing instead to continue to live on their dead and desolate planet. While the Fortress Monastery “Tower of Blades” emerged unscathed from the planet-wide bombardment thanks to its powerful shields, it would not remain unchanged. Great construction projects would be undertaken to expand the size of the monastery, raise many defensive fortifications, reinforce the existing structure and a plethora of countless other noteworthy deeds. The biggest change was the replacement of its singular large tower with two large spires that reached above the dark ashen clouds of Iritral. Finally, the name of the monastery itself was also changed and it was reborn as the “Aeterna Vigilantia” (Eternal Vigilance). An imposing sight in the midst of a forsaken wasteland, the Eternal Vigilance has stood for almost as long as the chapter itself has existed. With the passing of many millennia, many weapons of various archaic designs, sometimes even those whose knowledge of construction is now deemed lost, have been added to the many defensive installations of the monastery. Despite the Eternal Vigilance being located within a dark grey wasteland, it is not seen as an excuse to give it a similar appearance. The entire twin spire’s structure is said to be inspired by a mixture of gothic and baroque architecture, further decorated with lush, overgrown and uncanny plant life, whose maintenance is part of the chapter serf’s daily routine. Several great bridges connect the two twin spires together, forming something almost akin to a sprawling hive. Banners of fallen warriors whose feats were not forgotten and statues of great heroes are also not uncommon, gracefully accentuating the chapter’s attempt to defy the otherwise all-consuming monotone dark grey that surrounds them. At the top of the twin spires the chapter’s Reclusiam and Librarius, which simultaneously holds the chapter’s Astropathic Choir, can be found, the former recognizable thanks to its large ancient banners fluttering in the high altitudes and being constructed from marble, as well as being adorned with many golden details, while the latter is constructed from black stone and lit with bright blue flames that light the otherwise dark atmosphere. The Eternal Vigilance continues to grow in its size, complexity and defensive capabilities to this day in order to face the countless foes that the chapter encounters on the borders of the Imperium, keeping eternal watch over Iritral’s wastes and it is ready to defend the last shreds of the chapter’s honour that are buried beneath the planet’s layers of ash. Chapter Belief and Culture The words “Atonement” and “Annihilation” form the imperishable cornerstones of the chapter’s beliefs after the Burning of Iritral, with both of these expressions having become mirrored in the gigantic twin spires of the Eternal Vigilance: The spire with the Reclusiam naturally represents atonement and the spire that holds the Librarius embodies the chapter’s wish for the annihilation of mankind’s enemies, holding knowledge collected over many millennia with which the chapter has gained insight on the many weaknesses that plague their enemies. The destruction of the enemy outweighs any collateral damage that is suffered at the chapter’s hands. In the eyes of the Angels of Annihilation, humanity will always conquer that which has been destroyed. That which is reduced to ash may be rebuilt. Destruction and Construction are both needed for improvement, one cannot create something great without having both. This philosophy does not merely exist as an excuse however but also extends deep into the chapter’s culture and their training. Aspirants as well as Initiates and Brothers that wish to ascend even further into the secret order of the Unforgiven, the Inner Circle, are continuously broken mentally and physically several times during their training, enduring it all in order to grow and be further re-forged into warriors without flaw with impenetrable minds of steel. A particular addition to these beliefs that has formed over time, however, not too dissimilar like the overgrown lush plant life of the chapter’s monastery, is the fact the chapter has resolved themselves to never abandon any allies that they fight with. Having experienced first hand how darkness and corruption took root while not paying attention to their surroundings, the chapter has sworn to never let such events repeat themselves. Even if Fallen activity has been discovered, the chapter abandons no one it fights with. At worst they may dedicate a portion of their units to the pursuit of the Fallen and fight on with decreased numbers. There have been numerous accounts of mere squads inspiring platoons of guardsmen to hold the line by showing off their own tenacity, or times when the chapter rescued a surrounded entrenched gun line from an endless swarm of foes and many other deeds that have earned the chapter praise. Some may see those as heroic and noble actions, but the truth behind these actions is rather different. The chapter saves people not because they see themselves heroes or because of humanitarian morals, but for the simple reason that they expect those that they saved to become resolved to continue to fight on for another day. It is better for them to steel their minds against corruption and die in service of the Emperor, rather than to fall to despair and become the very thing they at first swore to destroy. While the original intent of Rezen Salrich was for the chapter to better itself, the belief of saving and standing with their allies has largely changed into a cynical and pragmatic mindset over time, for the chapter has lacked any true connection to humans and their own humanity outside their own Chapter Serfs and recruits for many millennia. Despite having purged their own homeworld many millennia ago, the chapter has inherited and continued on the traditions of the now-extinct population. The people of Iritral prided themselves in their sword making arts and offered some of their blades as sacrifices to the Emperor periodically. The sword in itself is the purest form of mankind’s ability to wage war, a truth that has not changed since mankind’s original dawn and has become a symbol associated with purity and strength in the eyes of the Angels of Annihilation. Each Techmarine of the chapter crafts a blade every 5 years to both commemorate the progress of their own skills as well as to offer up the blade to be used as a sacrifice to the Aspiration’s Summit. In addition, every Battle-Brother, upon the completion of his training, is awarded a newly crafted short sword that fits his personal fighting preferences. Much like the Gladius, which is used by several Space Marine chapters, it is a type of combat knife. However, these blades are not uniform in their shape or composition, as those are heavily dependent on their users. Each sword is a reflection of the marine that wields it and to lose one’s own personal blade is to bring great dishonour. On the other hand, to have one’s blade break during combat means that the blade has fulfilled its purpose and served until the very end of its capabilities, which also signifies that the Battle-Brother in question himself has grown and has become far more experienced. So important is their value, that it has been known that these blades are recovered alongside a fallen brother’s gene-seed, or in unique circumstances, only the blade if the battlefield situation allows not for careful gene-seed extraction. Successfully recovered blades are added to the many other blades of the Aspiration’s summit, signifying the death and thus completion of a marine’s duty. Although being a monastic chapter, the Angels of Annihilation shun the notion that the Emperor was truly a god. The great feats accomplished by mankind and the Emperor in the past were not the works of prayers being answered by false deities, but simply the work of humans who realized that their greatest gifts were their will and resolve. Despite not being humans anymore themselves, having sacrificed their humanity to become Angels of Death, the Astartes of the chapter have made it their purpose to carry out the will of the Emperor, while also avenging a dream that died long ago, when the Great Heresy took place. Aspiration’s Summit Unlike most important areas of the chapter, the Aspiration’s summit is not located anywhere near the Eternal Vigilance. It is a remote location to which all neophytes must travel in order to be considered true Angels of Annihilation. Journeys undertaken by foot can take anywhere between a few days to over a week, depending on the frequency of ash storms that continuously plague the surface of Iritral. These journeys are led by a Chaplain put in charge of training the fledgling neophytes, who himself is accompanied by an Apothecary as well as a handful of chapter serfs. It is a place that acts both as a sacred training ground and yet as a graveyard for the souls of the people that the chapter condemned on that fateful day many ages ago and their own Battle-Brothers that have fallen in combat all across the galaxy over the many millennia ever since. It is a sorrowful image of a grey mountain covered and surrounded by blades, whose purpose vanished with the death of their wielders, along with war-torn banners of past Battle-Brothers who accomplished great deeds during their lifetime as well as those of entire marine companies that fell in brutal wars. Some blades are heavily worn and partially eroded, a befitting testament to their age, while many others either are or seem like newly crafted additions. It is here in this desolate landscape of cold steel and colourless ash that the neophytes learn the ancient martial honour of Lost Caliban and not only begin to find great appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into a weapon but also manage to discover their own particular preferences for said weapons as well as their own combat style. Countless weeks, maybe months will be spent here with neophytes fighting each other to hone their skills. As there are no standardized rules or schedules, the Chaplains often create their own systems as they see fit and they won’t allow the neophytes to leave until they themselves are satisfied with the results. While the chapter generally prefers training neophytes in cooperative manners, this is the one exception that cannot be negotiated with and has become an integral part of the chapter’s way of life. The neophytes that return to the monastery are completely reforged into warriors that are indeed worthy of being part of the Lion’s gene-lineage. The Aspiration’s Summit serves some additional purposes as well. Given its symbolic value, it is also a place to where new Wrathwing initiates are drawn to in order to prove their worth, having to pass through several excruciating trials that seek to test the marine’s strength of will and resolve thoroughly. Atop the peak of the mountain is where the Master of the Wrathwing has to take the Heaven’s Oath to ensure the cooperation of the ancient machine spirit that dwells in the Paragon Blade named “Oathkeeper’s Blade”. Yet despite all these important rituals and trials that take place there, the Aspiration’s Summit certainly remains not a place to be actively yearned for and with each new blade added to its already countless numbers, that fact is only further cemented. Combat Doctrine Much like their primogenitor, the chapter fights as a normal codex-oriented chapter barring the chapter’s Wrathwing (1st Company) and Thunderwing (2nd Company), with tactical flexibility and rapid deployment at the forefront of their abilities. However, the chapter additionally places great emphasis on combat efficiency, encouraging each battle brother to fight at the peak of their capabilities. To that end, the chapter, unlike the Dark Angels, tolerates the notion of each fully trained Battle-Brother being able to customize their panoply of war. The Wrathwing and Thunderwing resemble the Deathwing and Ravenwing respectively, one completely clad in Terminator Armour and dedicated to the ruthless destruction of any foe that dares to oppose the Angels of Annihilation while the other snatches air superiority from the enemy and hunts down those that would try to flee from their well-deserved demise, be it combatants or non-combatants. To the chapter that distinction makes no difference, because with the utter annihilation of each foe, there is one less burden for the Imperium and thus the Emperor to handle. The chapter fights neither like savage barbarians nor noble warriors, it fights neither for pride nor for distinction, but simply seeks to exterminate their foes quickly and efficiently, viewing a quick death as the greatest mercy that the Emperor can offer to those that oppose mankind. To that end, the chapter has expressed a clear preference for Plasma weaponry, for being equally versatile on the battlefield and equally as deadly, reducing the chapter’s opponents to ash or boiling them inside their own armour with a mere blast. These weapons are seen as the avatars of the Emperor’s fury made manifest and each howling blast released is an innocent soul avenged. Rumours indicate that the chapter has inherited a great deal of knowledge about plasma weaponry from their founding chapter as well as having either traded or gained additional knowledge through other means over the many millennia, which would possibly explain their ability to maintain such a great amount of those particular special weapons. Rarely has a foe ever been recognized as possessing outstanding honour of their own, but in those rare times that the enemy has proven worthy, the chapter is willing to send out their own champions to test the resolve and strength of will that belongs to the foe. Chapter Armoury (Angelus Ferropera) While more exotic technologies are requisitioned from the local forge world known as Berethral, located in the same sector as the chapter’s homeworld, most of the gear and vehicles at the disposal of the chapter are crafted in the “Angelus Ferropera”, the chapter’s own forge located directly in the middle between the giant twin spires of their monastery. Giant metal gears can be seen on the outside, ceaselessly turning, indicating the constant and diligent work that is undertaken by the Techmarines that are housed there. Yet it is not merely just home to the chapter’s Techmarines but also to a myriad of great ancient technological secrets and relic war machines protected in stasis fields. Due to the ancient nature of the chapter, hailing from the 3rd founding, some long-forgotten relics that once served on the battlefield at the time of the Great Crusade and the Great Heresy can be discovered here, slumbering in stasis until their time is needed once more. A great deal of those relic vehicles that were inherited once served within the bygone formation of the Dark Angel’s legion known as the Dreadwing. These vehicles, whose machine spirits seem to be commonly plagued by the horrible experiences of the Great Heresy, await the moment they may be reawakened once more to serve on the battlefields of more modern times. Their hulls, irreversibly tainted by the weapons of Destroyer Marines, consistently release ominous radiation that can be measured by nearby Geiger counters, forever reminding the chapter’s warriors that these venerable vehicles are stained by their deeds of the past, just as the chapter itself is stained with both sin and shame. Yet it is not the exotic and rare relic weapons that win the majority of wars, but those that can be built and have proven reliable. The “Angelus Ferropera” ensures that the chapter’s demands are completely met and thus the Chapter's armoury is continuously well-stocked. Regarded with great reverence for the quality of its manufactured armaments and vehicles, it truly showcases the chapter’s dedication to the wars that they wage. Apart from also being the chapter’s greatest source of Plasma Weaponry, the forge is also in miraculous possession of construction knowledge for ancient types of Power Armour, albeit only able to create and maintain in rather limited amounts. At the forefront of this ability is the hardly remembered yet incredibly durable MK III Power Armour design, favoured by the chapter for its additional frontal protection and commonly issued to Veteran Battle Brothers. Due to the original template’s arguably outdated systems however, each newly produced suit’s systems and sensory equipment are individually modified at the hands of an experienced Techmarine to be up to modern standard. This practice extends far back into the chapter’s history and as such the most venerable examples of MK III suits have become invaluable relics. Recruitment Due to Iritral’s inhospitable nature, recolonization efforts outside the monastery have borne little fruit. As such, the chapter has instead opted to recruit from neighboring systems, favouring but not necessarily limiting themselves to hive worlds and feral worlds. The chapter shuns the notion of societal prejudice, for such things ultimately do not decide the capabilities of an initiate, and instead chooses recruits based on their pre-existing resolve and tenacity, which are determined by allowing the potential initiates to complete several trials, some of which are created on the spot at the whims of the recruiter. From the depths of the Underhive to feral villages located in the mountains, no place is off-limits for potential candidates whose survival instincts, as well as their skills and will to survive, are hardened beyond any conventional breaking point. Yet only the chapter can re-forge this potential into the terrifying prospect of an Astartes. To become an Angel of Annihilation is to relinquish whatever previous ties one possessed prior to his ascension, to seek nothing else but the destruction of mankind’s enemy as well as to earn the Emperor’s forgiveness for the chapter’s sin and the shame shared across all Unforgiven.