Dawn Guardians

The Dawn Guardians are an Ultima Founding Successor descended from the proud lineage of the Imperial Fists specialising in liberating worlds lost in the calamity of the Great Rift. As sons of Dorn, they are extremely stubborn and refuse to lose an inch of any of the ground they have gained without giving one hell of a fight. They are also notable for making the preservation of knowledge and history and priority as they would rather die than allow places of knowledge to fall into enemy hands. To suit their ends they have become semi Codex Compliant and a Crusading Chapter eternally holding off the enemies of Mankind so that the Imperium may live another day.



History
The Dawn Guardians have their origins as all Chapters of the Ultima Founding did, awakening in the cold cyropods of Mars or the holds of the Zar-Quaesitor as the Indomitus Crusade went underway, led by the newly awakened Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of Ultramarines and Lord Commander of the Imperium. With the help of Belisarius Cawl, of the Adeptus Mechanicum, the Imperium's vast armies were bolstered by the arrival of the Primaris Marines, a new breed of Astartes superior to what came before them. These Primaris reinforced the wartorn and embattled Chapters across the Galaxy, saving many from the brink of destruction, while the rest formed into new Chapters when the Indomitus Crusade finally subsided. One such Chapter became the Dawn Guardians and were granted the feudal world of Orios.

Retaking the Light
"See that giant scar out there? That's torn the Galaxy in half and allowed Chaos, xenos and Emperor knows what else to roam free in an attempt to slay the Imperium of Man! Do you know what I say to that? I say no! While we stand the Imperium will live and it's people live without fear! We will fight so that the fathers and mothers may return to their children and embrace them for another day! We will fight to give lovers another day of holding another! We will fight to give the Imperium life! We are the Templars of Light and WE WILL TAKE BACK THE DAY!"

- Achestus Benarin, first Chapter Master of the Templars of Light, giving his now immortalised speech

The Dawn Guardians have only been around for little under 200 years yet they have already blazed a bright path through the Galaxy, earning a reputation matching that of older Chapters. The Dawn Guardians earned countless honours in the Indomitus Crusade and even had the glory of fighting alongside legends such as Pedro Kantor, Kor'sarro Khan and even Roboute Guilliman. Then, once the Crusade ended, the Dawn Guardians' name became known from the Defence of White Reach, Liberation of Dustbowl and the Battle of New Suryia, where the heroism of a single squad of Aggressors saved the great libraries of New Suryia. The Dawn Guardians have become legendary for their actions that have garnered the respect of other Chapters.

The Dawn Guardians have also become known for for being patrons of knowledge and keepers of lore. Libraries, archives and records are priorities for the Chapter to defend, refusing to allow a single scrap of the Imperium's history to fall into enemy hands. If they refuse to give an inch to an enemy advance, they are even more stubborn in the defence of a place of knowledge even giving their own lives if need be. This is their way; the preservation of the Imperium, its present and its past.

Notable Campaigns

 * Indomitus Crusade (ca. 999.M41 - ca. 111.M42):
 * Defence of White Reach (Unknown Date) - White Reach is falls under attack from a horde of chaos warbands. Though the warbands are powerful, the Indomitus Crusade proves mightier and drives them from White Reach.
 * Liberation of Dustbowl (Unknown Date) - The Dawn Guardians liberate the frontier world of Dustbowl from the clutches of the insidious Night Lords who are drawn out and destroyed by the Dawn Guardians' Vanguard.
 * Battle of New Suryia (Unknown Date) - New Suryia is besieged by the Black Legion and in danger of falling by the time the Indomitus Crusade arrives. The Dawn Guardians earn fame when a squad of Aggressors hold back a tide of Heretic Astartes from the great library holding thousands of years of knowledge. Though only one Aggressor survives, the library is saved and New Suryia is soon after freed.
 * The Laughing Man ca. 130.M42) - The Dawn Guardians, under the leadership of Captain Aragin, arrive on Scurafar to take on a massive horde of Orks. Unexpectedly they find the Orks already engaged by a force of Astartes who do not give their name. Their leader proves hard to contact but he eventually agrees to coordinate with the Dawn Guardians. The marines draws the horde into the waiting guns of the Dawn Guardians who engage the greenskins directly. Captain Aragin engages the warboss in a bloody duel that sees him lose his right arm. However before Aragin can finish the boss, the other marines' leader jumps in at the last minute and beheads it with one blow. Though the orks are soon finished, Aragin leave with a hatred for the Astartes who calls himself the Laughing Man.
 * Curing a Sickness (166.M42) - A vectorum of Death Guard invades the lush world of Greenglow. However the Dawn Guardians are nearby and rush to the world's aid. Though daemonic allies and foul magicks are employed by the vectorum, the Dawn Guardians prove strong enough to defeat and wipe them out.

Chapter Organisation
The Dawn Guardians heavily deviate from the Codex Astartes in terms of organisation and tactics. The Chapter favors close quarters and line holding, thus Companies are highly mobile in order to respond to ever shifting battle lines. It is highly common for Companies to be split into Demi-Companies led by the Lieutenants. Each Demi-Company has a different purpose, either on the offensive, titled "Sword" or defensive, titled "Shield". The Lieutenant leading the offensive Demi-Company is titled "Sword Master" and the Lieutenant leading the defensive Demi-Company is titled "Shield Master".

Order of Battle
The Dawn Guardians' Order of Battle falls mostly in line with the traditional organisation laid out in the Codex Astartes except their squads have different designations.

The Dishonoured
Every Dawn Guardian places honour highly and to risk dishonour is a fate worse than death. Dishonour comes in many forms; failure to defend a place of knowledge, losing your squad, incur a humiliating defeat or fleeing. Any Dawn Guardian who dishonours himself will bring shame upon his lineage, kingdom and Chapter. Some will simply fall on their blades in penance but most will mark their helm with soot and become a Dishonoured. They will be shunned until they can redeem themselves in deeds or death. Even if one manages to redeem himself with deeds, most will choose redemption in a worthy death, for the stain will never truly wash away.

Librarius
Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Dawn Guardians maintain a Librarium of potent psykers who were highly talented and trained to master the power of the Warp at the highest levels. Each Chapter selects its Librarians in its own way, either from seed worlds, as it does with the bulk of its Initiates, or from the ranks of gifted psykers brought to the Scholastica Psykana. Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient ways laid out in the Codex Astartes. Librarians of the Blood Angels are trained in this way, and, with few minor traditional variances, have been taught to live by the word of the Codex.

When not devastating the plans of enemy warlords in war zones from Damocles to the Cadian Gate, Librarians have a host of other, less violent, duties to attend to. In addition to testing recruits and tending to their own training, Librarians are responsible for maintaining their Chapter's Librariums. Overseen by the Librarians, each is a silent and sacred place of whispered secrets and hidden truths. Filled with ancient tomes and sacred scrolls, every piece of text laid down by the Chapter, or relevant to its existence, is housed within. Every fortress-monastery will have a Librarium to house the lore, battle records, and certain psychically-active artifacts like Force Weapons. Famous victories, shameful defeats and the legends of the Chapter's heroes are recorded there, and the Librarians are fiercely devoted to their role as keepers of this legacy.

In addition to the main Librarium on a Chapter homeworld, many Battle Barges maintain smaller Librariums for use during their long campaigns. While no two Librariums are exactly the same, they are often built around a central pillar, its racks of books and scrolls spiraling out into antechambers that hold rows of written works, data-slates, chronicle-stones and mnemo-slates recording the accounts of great battles, the final words of its heroes, and the secrets of vanquished foes. The central pillar of the Librarium houses its oldest available copy of the Codex Astartes, held in a stasis-plinth or protected by holo-reflection. Many lords of the Adeptus Astartes visit the quiet, dusty halls of the Librarium to draw their inspiration and resolve from the ancient book in times of darkness.

The Librarians of the Dawn Guardians are notable for their tendency to scour through entire records and archives and cataloging them into the Chapter's archives for safe keeping. This is due to the Dawn Guardians' self appointed sacred duty in preserving the knowledge and history of the Imperium in order to safeguard the past as well as the present.

Combat Doctrine
The Dawn Guardians prefer close combat, utilizing drop assaults and mobile deployment in order to get as close to the enemy as possible and retain maneuverability in an ever shifting battlefield. In battle, it is common for a Company to split into two Demi-Companies, the Sword and Shield, each led by a Sword Master and Shield Master respectively. The Sword Company acts as an offensive force while the Shield Company acts as a defensive force or additional fire support for the Sword Company.

Vanguard Space Marines are elite reconnaissance troops who go ahead of the main force in order to drop behind enemy lines and enact a campaign of confusion and sabotage. While being ruthless killers and efficient assassins, the Vanguard of the Dawn Guardians are expected to hold to a sense of honour and look down on many terror tactics. Unlike the savage Reivers of the Kshatriya, who revel in carnage, or the stalking hunters that make up the Jackal Claws' Eliminators, the Vanguard of the Dawn Guardians have no interest in scare tactics and prefer to kill quick, quietly and cleanly. The Vanguard also have another use in securing priority objectives such as places of knowledge.



The Dawn Guardians also value mobility. Even though they are all Primaris Marines, the next step in the evolution of the Astartes, they still only number 1,000 warriors at the end of the day, a paltry number against the multitudes of foes they must face. Unlike the Imperial Guard, who may never run out of men, the Astartes cannot afford such numbers and thus must adapt to the ever changing conditions of the battlefield in different ways. The Dawn Guardians hence place a great deal of focus on a mobile army capable of responding to enemy offensives quickly. Inceptors and Suppressors are constantly on the move to lend their firepower to one defensive point before flying to the next while Repulsors and Impulsors ferry Hellblasters and Aggressors to areas they are needed most. Astraeus tanks and Repulsor Executioners lay down devastating barrages of fire on enemies foolish enough to assault their lines before utilising their advanced grav plates to quickly move to another position in need of their power, meanwhile Redemptor Dreadnoughts can be counted on to provide their own onslaught of damage. Thus to assault a line held by the Dawn Guardians is a dangerous risk, for it is to go against an ever shifting line of fire power that can adjust and respond to any threat in no time at all. Yet, this is all possible due to the backbone of any Dawn Guardians Company; the Intercessor.



Unlike the Intercessors of most Chapters, the Intercessors of the Dawn Guardians are often outfitted with close quarters weaponry and combat shields. Though the firepower of a Dawn Guardians line is great it is the Intercessor who holds it together, striking down any foe who somehow survives the firestorm with chainswords or power maces. Though they are strong wall, it is on the offensive where the Intercessors truly become a danger; for a charge of Intercessors supported by Inceptors or Suppressors has spelt the doom of entire armies many a time. While their preference for melee leaves them at a disadvantage at range, the Intercessors get over this by using drop pods, Repulsors and Overlords to drop them right on top of the enemy.

Chapter Beliefs and Traditions
Ever since their awakening at the onset of the Indomitus Crusade, the Dawn Guardians have made it their duty to safeguard the Imperium and liberate the worlds lost to those who would see it die. The Dawn Guardians see themselves as the Imperium's sword and shield.

Knowledge is Power
As noted before, the Dawn Guardians are known to place libraries, records and archives as priorities to be defended or liberated from enemy hands and will fight to the death to safeguard them. The Chapter also records the stored knowledge to safeguard it in their fortress monastery. This is spurred from the belief that the past of the Imperium must be protect just as much as the present Imperium. Due to this belief, every Astartes in the Chapter has at least some skill in record keeping and the art of the scribe.

Honour the Old
"I pity the old breed, I really do. It must be soul crushing to serve the Imperium for ten millennia only for a new breed of Astartes to come out of nowhere and be hailed as the hope of the Imperium. I can only imagine the anguish some of them may hide within them, thinking they will be the last generation of their kind and be supplanted by the Primaris. Will we ultimately replace them? I can't say. I don't even want to think about it. They are fine warriors and have been the Imperium's protectors before we were even conceived of, they deserve respect and recognition of their worth. Which is why, should the Primaris ultimately replace them, I will fight in their memory and in celebration of their worth. But for now? I will fight alongside them, for, old and new, we are Astartes and we are the Imperium's hope."

- Achestus Benarin on the old breed.

Many of the Chapters created from the Ultima Founding, made entirely of Primaris Marines, look down on the old breed of Astartes who came before them, seeing them as obsolete tools to be replaced. The Dawn Guardians see them differently however, having nothing but the utmost respect towards the old breed for their ten millennia of service to the Imperium. Furthermore they understand the frustration, and perhaps bitterness, that the old breed hold towards them and do their utmost to overcome this issue and prove to them that the Primaris are worthy brothers and, should the Primaris eventually supplant them, worthy successors to the defenders of mankind.

The Burden of Undeath
The Redemptor dreadnought's power is mighty and an incredibly effective force in battle. However it's sheer power burns out it's interred occupant in time. For this reason the Dawn Guardians do not see interment as an honour but a sacrifice. Those interred are mourned and their sacrifice venerated.

Code of Honour
Every Dawn Guardian must keep to a Code of Honour that dictates their mannerisms and rituals. Every Dawn Guardian comes from a noble family and already have an understanding of this code, but it is when they become a marine is when it really becomes important. A Dawn Guardian must be honourable, strong, diplomatic and knowledgeable. They must show honour to a foe, provided it is capable of also having honour, and must never flee. Those who break this code will be dishonoured and bring shame to their lineage.

Notable Members

 * Achestus Benarin - Achestus Benarin, a first generation Primaris Marine, is the Chapter Master of the Dawn Guardians. A proven leader and tactician, Benarin's almost natural skills have proven decisive in winning a battle against all the odds. He is also a noted speech maker and diplomat, able to calm tensions between two sides with but a few word. With his repertoire of skills and the number of victories to back them up, Achestus Benarin is one of the many heroes to emerge from this new generation of Astartes.
 * Darwus Aragin - Captain of the 6th Company. Darwus Aragin, of the line of Aragin of Curama, is notable for leading a strike force to Scurafar where he encountered Yurik Hex, Cackle Alpha of the Jackal Claws, already engaged with the Orks. For those who are aware of Hex's reputation, it is little wonder Aragin left with a dislike for him and his Chapter.
 * Arvus Markius Known as the Savior of Taldoros, Markius, of the line of Markius of Genoia, earned his title through holding the gates to the city against a horde of Khornate Berserkers by himself. While many Dawn Guardians, especially among the elite, favour the blade, Markius prefers his lightning claws for the devastation they can unleash.

Chapter Gene Seed
The Dawn Guardians' gene seed is derived from the Imperial Fists as well as being perfected by the Primaris Project results in a genetically stable and mutation free gene seed. Being Imperial Fists, Dawn Guardians are incredibly tough and stubborn.

Chapter Recruitment
The Dawn Guardians recruit mostly from their homeworld of Orios though they have no qualms in recruiting from other worlds if needed. Chapter recruits are usually taken from the noble families or from the families of kingdom soldiers. Recruits are expected to be able to the best fighters of the aspirant group as well as being incredibly fit. However, recruits must also have a sense of honour and stand by a code of chivalry. From then on, every Dawn Guardian is expected to stand by that code or risk great consequences.

Chapter Homeworld
Orios is a Feudal World located in Segmentum Ultima granted to the Dawn Guardians at the end of the Indomitus Crusade. It is said that the one to grant the world was none other than Roboute Guilliman himself. Orios is divided into several kingdoms of varying size and might. The mightiest being the Kingdoms of Serengald, Osraige, Curama and Karogast. While the overall culture is a feudalistic pre-gunpowder era society, there are several differences in each kingdom. One Kingdom may favour riding into battle on top of horses while another kingdom charges on foot wielding mighty claymores. Due to an ancient invasion, Orios has an infestation of Orks who have long abandoned the shoota in favour of crude imitations of the sword. Due to the large number of kingdoms who constantly fight another, the Orks are rarely a large danger. Thus they provide great battle for the kingdoms, and the Dawn Guardians.

The Dawn Guardians maintain their fortress monastery on an island off the main continent of Orios. The Chapter do not have any involvement with how the planet is run, leaving such a duty with the kings, though the Chapter Master is buried with hails and pleadings from rulers asking for aid to attack another kingdom.

Four Kingdoms
Orios is host to many Kingdoms, but there are four main kingdoms who are the mightiest and biggest. They are Serengald, Osraige, Curama and Karogast. Serengald rules over the cold pine forests of the North. Knights from here are renowned monster slayers who wear the pelts of their kills as cloaks Osraige is a rainy land filled with hills and rocks. Knights are known to bear facial markings and have long fair hair. Somehow, Orks are extremely common and thus provide a constant foe for the knights to battle. Curama may be considered a land of beauty with prosperous farmlands. The knights are incredibly chivalrous and ride into battle atop mighty horses. Karogast's mountains hold fearsome Drakon and other beasts, usually Orks, within its caves. Thus the knights of the mountain castles are tough warriors adorned with armour crafted from only the finest of metal mined in the expansive caverns in the mountains.

For Blood and Kingdom
The Dawn Guardians place heavy emphasis on an Astartes keeping ties to his family line for a noble family to have a son rise to such heights is a great honour. Furthermore, which Kingdom they hail from is equally important. Despite remaining close to their origins, the Dawn Guardians stay clear of kingdom and family conflict and are only concerned with bringing honour to them. Even so, a Dawn Guardian's family is perfectly happy to use the number of members in their line who have become Astartes as a way to one up another family.

Fortress Monastery
The Dawn Guardians' Fortress Monastery Keep of the Rising Sun is located on an island off the mainland of Orios. It was built in the style of the castles of the kingdoms except it is also adorned with numerous defence turrets and the like. The keep holds the librarius, reclusiam, main hall, dormitories and armouries. The Chapter Master has a throne room from where he rules the Chapter and meets with dignitaries. It was also built so that each day is greeted by the sun rising behind it.

Chapter Fleet
The Dawn Guardians boast a mighty fleet that has carried them to many great victories. Each ship's interior is lovingly maintained and adorned with trophies and finely wrought tapestries.
 * Dawn Chariot - The Dawn Chariot is the Battle Barge and flagship of the Chapter. Having been with the Chapter since its Founding, it has seen many victories.

Chapter Relics

 * Blade of the King - Achestus' relic blade is forged from the finest of materials and is capable of tearing through almost any armour. Legend holds that it was personally gifted to Benarin from Roboute Guilliman when he granted them Orios as their Chapter World.
 * Knight Swords - Knight swords are blades personally forged by every Dawn Guardian upon their ascension to full marine. A knight sword may take the form of a combat knife, chainsword, power sword or relic blade. A Dawn Guardian's knight sword is incredibly important to him and he would rather lose his arm than lose the sword.

Deathwatch Service
The Dawn Guardians willingly contribute to the ranks of the Deathwatch. As proficient melee fighters, they make for excellent close assault warriors while their scholarly Chaplains and Liberians contribute greatly with their knowledge and their might on the battlefield. However, the Dawn Guardians' pursuit for glory and the safeguarding of knowledge often conflicts with other Chapters.

Chapter Appearance
The Dawn Guardians' colour scheme is white and yellow. Every marine's armour is often adorned with trophies, purity seals and other pieces that are usually influenced by the respective kingdom. For example, Battle Brothers from the Kingdom of Osraige often carry pieces of parchment recording their deeds. Marines from Osraige may also bear facial markings and have long hair while marines from Carama are always clean shaven well maintained figures with short cropped hair.

The Dawn Guardians identify ranks by the colour of their face plates. Vanguard Space Marines are the exception and have a completely white helm. Battle Brother - blue Sergeant - red Lieutenant - red with a gold skull on their helmet Veteran - gold Veteran Sergeant - gold with a gold skull Chapter Master and Captain - helmet is completely gold

Chapter Badge
The Dawn Guardians' badge is a blue shield with a rising sun in its center.