Golden Knights

The Golden Knights are a second founding space marine chapter of unknown origins and an unknown primarch, though surviving records point to being founded even before the end of the Horus Heresy. During M.38, a massive chaos incursion of their home world, Zinthreon II, located in the Segmentum Obscurus, resulted in the destruction or theft of most of the chapters record pertaining to their origin. The chapter refuses to follow the codex astartes and have nearly been declared traitors for several charges of legion building with their average number of active astartes being 2,500.

Recruitment
Unlike most chapters, the Golden knights do not undergo extensive screening for chaos in their recruites, dispite past interactions with chaos. This is due to a unique trait that their gene seed bears that, when implanted into impure aspirants, burns them to ash, leaving only the gene seed itself intact. Aspirants of the chapter are formed into large 200 man companies and are sent out on small crusades, typically against xenos foes. These aspirant companies are led by a scout captain, an honor held by ancient dreadnoughts. Survivors of ten crusades are made into full brothers of the chapter.

Chapter Organization
The chapter, despite its large size, is only formed into five companies of astartes. This is due to the chapter specializing in mass assaults, similar to those undergone by the imperial guard. Each compay within the chapter serves its own purpose and specializations.
 * The Custodes Regent
 * The First company of the Golden Knights space marine chapter consists of 100 veteran astartes. These astartes utilize their decades of combat experience to combant threats possed by the most dangerous foes, usually only entering combat should a hostile commander or greater daemon of chaos reveals themselves.
 * These astartes are armed with intracate power armor, customized by their wearers to bear a similar appearanc to that of the armor worn by the adeptus custodes. Most wield power spears with mounted storm bolters to further their similarities to that of the custodes.
 * They are headed not by one but five captains that serves as a council to the chapter master. Each of these captains has undertaken a pilgramige to Terra where they have undertaken extensive training administered by the custodes themselves.
 * The Tide
 * The second company of the chapter. Consists of the remaining number of full astartes within the chapter.
 * Unlike most companies in other astartes chapters, this companies astartes are divided up into platoons of about 20 astartes per platoon, however, some platoons can reach sizes of up to a hundred astartes depending upon the current combat situations, such as the loss of platoon seargents.
 * They are led by a council of fifteen astartees. These astartes usually bear the most experience within the second company, and, exept for when a lower astartes displays exeptional strength and skill in combat, the first to be chosen to rise to the first company should a spot open.
 * The Recruits
 * A general name given to the third, fourth, and fifth companies of the chapter. These companies consist almost entirely of recruits, with the only acceptions being their dreadnought commanders