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This article, Eclipsed Sons, was written by Kamikaze Senpai. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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The Eclipsed Sons, also known as the Sons of the Eclipse, are a non-codex complaint, fleet-based Space Marine Chapter of mysterious origin whose history is shrouded in secrecy and contradiction. Official records claim them as descendants of Guilliman’s line, yet no founding decree survives. Already sighted in the Eastern Fringe by the late M32, they fought the Word Bearers before Imperial archives even acknowledged their existence. This absence of proof has drawn suspicion from the Inquisition, which has long questioned the Chapter’s Unknown Founding and unusual faith.
Their fervent devotion stems from a series of miracles witnessed in their earliest crusades. Stars collapsed into eclipse at the hour of their need, hymns carried across the void without vox, and enemy vessels were destroyed in ways interpreted as signs from the Emperor. These events convinced the Sons that the Emperor is not only the Master of Mankind, but a living sun whose light still burns through signs in the void. From these beliefs came their eclipse rites, somber hymns, and reputation as warrior monks of the deep dark. Using the Emperor’s Terror, a sacred psychic attunement of the Chapter, they claim to discern where His will demands their intervention next, allowing them to appear in critical sectors before threats fully manifest.
The exact strength of the Eclipsed Sons is unknown, as the Chapter does not maintain traditional codex-compliant structures. Sources suggest their numbers rival those of a full Chapter, with multiple companies deployed across Sub-Sector Argos and beyond. Their hatred for codex doctrine is absolute; the Sons regard strict adherence to organizational regulations as heretical, believing that obedience to rigid rules constrains the Emperor’s will. Instead, they structure themselves around mission needs, spiritual hierarchy, and martial effectiveness, deploying rapidly via voidborne assault and teleportation strikes. This decentralized structure allows them to act with extreme autonomy, ensuring their faith-driven objectives are never subordinated to bureaucratic oversight.
The Eclipsed Sons operate without a homeworld, relying entirely on their fleet, with the Obsidian Requiem serving as flagship and Fortress-Monastery. Life aboard the fleet has forged a unique culture of devotion, discipline, and martial precision. Unlike Codex-adherent Chapters, the Sons structure their forces according to tradition and necessity, emphasizing boarding actions, teleport strikes, and surgical orbital operations rather than standard company organization.
They are specialists in voidborne warfare, favoring Thunderhawk strikes and teleport insertions. Veteran Duskborn lead boarding operations that cripple enemy vessels, while the Sons themselves remain disciplined and precise, avoiding indiscriminate bombardment in favor of surgical strikes that shatter enemy morale. Unlike relic-rich Chapters, the Eclipsed Sons rely on scavenged wargear. The Eclipse Standard, Mirrored Blade, and Shroud of Silent Dawn are salvaged relics sanctified through prayer and ritual. Their most sacred figure, Malachar, the Last Cantor, is an Ancient Contemptor Dreadnought who wields scavenged weapons imbued with faith, including his Stormforged Eclipse Fist, Duskfire Cannon, and Vox Nullum Interface.
During the mid-34th Millennium, the Eclipsed Sons first encountered the Hounds of Argos near the Shimmering Void. A Hounds patrol was ambushed by remnants of a large rogue Imperial regiment and faced near annihilation. The Sons arrived through the voidborne shadows, not seeking glory but to protect the patrol, their black sun sigils faintly visible against the stars. This intervention earned the cautious trust of the Hounds, who would later rely on that trust when the Eclipsed Sons arrived to mediate during the Drowned Spire Massacre in Late M36. The prior encounter ensured the Hounds respected the Sons’ neutrality and guidance, making the mediation effective where otherwise vengeance and chaos might have erupted into full-scale conflict.
The Inquisition does not fully trust the Eclipsed Sons. Their unknown founding, intense mysticism, and fleet-based secrecy raise questions among puritan factions of the Ordo Hereticus. Yet despite suspicion and rumors, the Sons’ actions speak louder than any whisper. Their miracles, surgical warfare, and role as mediators prove time and again that their loyalty is genuine, even if their methods are unorthodox.
Though watched with suspicion, to many across the Imperium the arrival of the Eclipsed Sons is both a sign of dread and salvation. Wherever the black sun rises, the Emperor’s hidden blade follows.
Chapter History[]
Early Sightings (Late M32)[]
Scattered reports from the Eastern Fringe suggest that a highly disciplined and unusually devout force of Space Marines began operating along the fringes of Imperial space in the late M32. Eyewitnesses describe vast fleet formations moving with preternatural precision, often appearing during pirate raids, cultist uprisings, or skirmishes between local militias.
These sightings were rare, inconsistent, and fragmented across multiple sectors, leaving Imperial records incomplete and raising questions as to whether these patrols were the same Chapter that would later be formally recognized as the Eclipsed Sons. Chroniclers note the Marines’ strict ceremonial conduct, the almost ritualistic recitation of hymns during engagements, and a willingness to intercede in conflicts without orders from the Segmentum or neighboring Chapters.
Although the historical record remains ambiguous, these early encounters hinted at a force deeply committed to the Emperor’s will and possessing both exceptional martial skill and a singular religious zeal. The Eclipsed Sons’ presence in the void, appearing at times of dire need, earned them whispered reputations as spectral warriors whose methods and origins remained shrouded in secrecy.
Pact of the Void (M33)[]
In M33, the Chapter first appeared in official Imperial records when a fleet-bound patrol intervened in a contested system where two minor Chapters teetered on the brink of open conflict. Acting as impartial arbiters, the Eclipsed Sons negotiated and enforced a tenuous truce, preventing what could have escalated into catastrophic internecine warfare.
Their conduct demonstrated not only tactical acumen but also an unwavering commitment to the Emperor’s principles, interpreting the broader meaning of His will in situations where politics, pride, and aggression threatened unity. The Inquisition took note, both cautious and intrigued; agents observed the Chapter’s actions and concluded that the Sons could serve as shadow arbiters, able to mediate disputes while maintaining absolute martial authority.
This episode laid the foundation for the Eclipsed Sons’ enduring role as impartial enforcers and spiritual intermediaries within the Imperium.
Early Operations (M33)[]
Following the Pact of the Void, the Eclipsed Sons began a campaign of independent patrols along the peripheries of Imperial space. These operations were primarily directed at the eradication of heretical cults, marauding pirate fleets, and rogue warbands threatening civilian populations.
Their tactics emphasized precision and minimal collateral damage, including boarding actions, teleportation insertions between vessels, and carefully calibrated orbital strikes. Despite operating without oversight from major Imperial authorities, the Chapter’s patrols consistently achieved their objectives with surgical efficiency.
Chroniclers remark that these operations not only honed the Sons’ combat techniques but also reinforced their reputation as devout, disciplined warriors, willing to act decisively while interpreting the Emperor’s will with solemn judgment.
Escort of the Thronefire Chalice and Witness to the Adepta Sororitas (Early M36)[]
In early M36, the Eclipsed Sons were tasked with escorting the Thronefire Chalice, a relic dating to the Crusade era, to the fledgling Adepta Sororitas. The mission was shadowed by a small flotilla from the Hounds of Argos, who provided patrol frigates and boarding squads. A discreet agent of the Ordo Hereticus observed the operation, ensuring proper conduct and adherence to Imperial law.
En route, a Chaos raider contingent attempted to ambush the convoy. In response, the Eclipsed Sons deployed teleportation teams to the raiders’ vessels, striking with merciless precision while Hounds boarding parties destroyed the attackers’ ships. The Chalice arrived intact, cementing early trust between the Eclipsed Sons, Hounds of Argos, and the nascent Sisters of Battle.
The episode demonstrated the Sons’ dual capacity as impartial mediators and uncompromising defenders of the Emperor’s relics and servants.
Drowned Spire Massacre (Late M36)[]
Later in M36, the Eclipsed Sons were summoned to the Mournveil System to mediate tensions between the Hounds of Argos and the Marines Malevolent, whose brutal actions endangered Imperial refugees. Acting as neutral intermediaries, the Sons navigated the delicate politics of the situation, ensuring the protection of non-combatants while preventing the escalation of violence into unnecessary slaughter.
Hounds patrols reinforced the mediation, deploying boarding teams and support fire to maintain order and security. Observing the proceedings, the Inquisition noted the Sons’ capacity for impartial judgment and their ability to project authority without resorting to wanton slaughter, solidifying their reputation as reliable, devout, and measured enforcers of the Emperor’s will.
Silent Culling (Late M37)[]
In the aftermath of the Ashen Veil Crusade, remnants of a Word Bearer warband fleeing the Mournveil System were intercepted by the Eclipsed Sons. Deploying Duskborn Terminators under the command of Eclipsarch Ancaris, and supported by Malachar, the Last Cantor, in his Contemptor Dreadnought, the Chapter struck with lethal efficiency.
Teleporting aboard the warband’s command vessel, Ancaris confronted the surviving commander while Malachar faced Morthak the Blighted, a Word Bearer Contemptor Dreadnought. Both foes were destroyed; the remaining vessels were sabotaged and left drifting in the void. The warband’s morale collapsed entirely, eliminating any further threat.
The Hounds of Argos acknowledged the decisive action of the Sons, strengthening the trust and mutual respect between the Chapters, and establishing a precedent for coordinated operations in the subsector.
Aftermath and Resupply (Late M37 – Early M38)[]
Following the Silent Culling, the Eclipsed Sons retreated to patrol sectors for resupply and recovery. The Hounds of Argos provided munitions, field repairs, and logistical support, while Forge World Hephaestus contributed artificer expertise.
In recognition of the recovery of lost Imperial technology and the decisive elimination of fleeing Word Bearers, Hephaestus established Obsidian Spire, a re-arming and repair station within Sub-Sector Argos. The station serves as both a logistical hub and a consecrated point of Imperial presence in the void.
During this period, the Eclipsed Sons formalized alliances with major loyalist factions, including the Hounds of Argos, select Knight Houses, and discreet Mechanicus detachments. These alliances recognized the Sons’ impartiality, operational effectiveness, and devout service to the Emperor, allowing them to act as trusted mediators and rapid-response forces throughout the subsector.
The Inquisition confirmed the Sons as reliable enforcers and intermediaries, solidifying their role in the ongoing defense and spiritual guidance of Sub-Sector Argos.
Notable Campaigns[]
- Pact of the Void (M33): The Eclipsed Sons prevented open conflict between two minor Chapters by mediating a truce, earning recognition as impartial arbiters of the Emperor’s will. The Inquisition took note, intrigued by their ability to enforce unity with both authority and restraint.
- Early Operations (M33): Operating independently along the Imperial peripheries, the Sons purged pirates, cults, and rogue warbands with surgical precision. Their disciplined tactics and devout conduct established them as reliable defenders despite lacking formal oversight.
- Escort of the Thronefire Chalice (Early M36): Tasked with escorting the Thronefire Chalice to the fledgling Adepta Sororitas, the Sons and the Hounds of Argos annihilated a Chaos raiding fleet en route. The mission secured trust between the Sons, Hounds, and Sisters while proving the Chapter’s role as guardians of Imperial faith.
- Drowned Spire Massacre (Late M36): The Sons mediated a standoff in the Mournveil System between the Hounds of Argos and Marines Malevolent, ensuring refugees were spared from slaughter. Their impartial judgment impressed the Inquisition, reinforcing the Sons’ reputation as measured enforcers of order.
- Silent Culling (Late M37):Striking remnants of a fleeing Word Bearer warband, the Sons deployed Terminators and dreadnought support to eliminate enemy commanders and cripple their fleet. The Hounds of Argos praised the Sons’ precision and ferocity, strengthening mutual trust.
- Aftermath and Resupply (Late M37–Early M38): Recovering from the Silent Culling, the Sons received arms, support, and artificer aid from the Hounds of Argos and Forge World Hephaestus. In recognition of their victories, Hephaestus established the Obsidian Spire as a consecrated station for resupply and repair.
Chapter Homeworld[]
Fortress-Monastery[]
Chapter Organization[]
The Eclipsed Sons are led by the Eclipsarch, the Chapter Master who holds ultimate authority over both spiritual and military matters. The Hymn Wardens, equivalent to Captains, command individual strike forces and oversee major fleet operations, while the Cantors serve as Chaplains, guiding the spiritual and moral conduct of the Chapter. The Eclipsed Seers, acting as Librarians, channel psychic powers and interpret celestial signs in accordance with the Emperor’s will. Voidwrights maintain and repair the Chapter’s fleet and wargear, performing rituals alongside technical work to sanctify all machinery. Bloodkeepers, the Apothecaries, tend to the wounded and preserve the purity of the gene-seed. Veteran bodyguards, known as Duskborn, protect the Chapter Master and lead critical boarding operations. Battle-Brothers are called the Voidborn Sons , and the neophytes, training to become full Battle-Brothers, are known as the Children of the Eclipse.
Officer Ranks[]
Specialist Ranks[]
Line Ranks[]
Specialist Units & Formations[]
Order of Battle[]
Headquarters[]
Companies[]
Chapter Recruitment[]
The Eclipsed Sons maintain a rigorous and secretive recruitment process, reflecting both their fleet-based nature and mystical traditions. Aspirants are selected from worlds across the Imperium, often from isolated or hazardous environments that forge resilience and cunning. Reports suggest that the Chapter favors individuals of exceptional physical beauty, agility, and mental discipline, though the exact reasons for this preference remain deliberately obscured. Some historians speculate that it may relate to the Chapter’s mysterious origins and latent gene-seed properties.
Aspirants undertake the Pilgrimage of the Void, a sacred ordeal that binds their soul in faith to the Emperor before the implantation of gene-seed. Initiates are sealed within the Chambers of Silent Dawn, immense sanctums hidden deep within the Chapter’s void-ships where light is extinguished and silence reigns. Each neophyte is given only a shard of sanctified hymnstone, upon which they must etch their prayers by hand in total isolation. The prolonged solitude crushes the unprepared, but the greater trial lies beyond the silence: subtle distortions of reality, whispers from the warp, and at times fleeting or violent daemonic manifestations that stalk the aspirants in the void. Some challengers are forced to combat entities that may not be wholly real, their psychic and martial skill tested alongside their faith. The Duskborn and Chaplains monitoring the rite intervene only if the aspirant’s life is in immediate danger or if the warp’s influence threatens to overwhelm the vessel. Failure ends in death; survival marks the aspirant as worthy of the Emperor’s hidden flame.
Those who endure the pilgrimage emerge forever changed, carrying their hymnstone as a sacred relic. The stones are etched with the first prayers of the aspirant and often integrated into armor or weaponry as a constant reminder of both the darkness endured and the Emperor’s light. Some stones emit faint, mysterious vibrations in the warp, echoing hymns no mortal tongue has sung. Allies see these initiates as disciplined, radiant warrior-monks; enemies glimpse figures whose beauty and silent wrath are both mesmerizing and terrifying. The Pilgrimage of the Void, where faith and shadow converge, ensures that the Eclipsed Sons maintain a force both spiritually unbreakable and psychically attuned to the darkness that seeks to consume the Imperium.
Once they endure the Pilgrimage of the Void, aspirants receive the gene-seed and commence traditional Space Marine indoctrination, including weapons training, tactical instruction, and voidborne operations specialization. The Sons emphasize boarding actions, teleport insertions, and precision strikes over large-scale engagements. Those who survive and excel are inducted as Children of the Eclipse , eventually progressing to Voidborn Sons, and potentially, with merit and service, to the ranks of Duskborn veterans or specialized roles such as Cantors, Voidwrights, and Eclipsed Seers.
Recruitment is tightly controlled, and very few survive the Pilgrimage of the Void, making the Eclipsed Sons a chapter of small, highly skilled warriors whose loyalty and faith in the Emperor is absolute. The combination of spiritual trials, psychic attunement, and disciplined training ensures that each marine is as much a vessel of devotion as a weapon of war.
Chapter Beliefs[]
The Eclipsed Sons are among the most devout Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, their faith shaped by centuries of witnessing events they interpret as divine miracles. They hold that the Emperor is not only the Master of Mankind but a living embodiment of divine light, guiding the Imperium through the void. Stars collapsing into eclipse during critical battles, vessels destroyed in inexplicable ways, and hymns carrying unassisted across the void reinforced this belief. The Emperor’s guidance is understood to manifest through celestial phenomena and subtle signs on the battlefield, and all strategic and moral decisions are filtered through this spiritual lens.
Before every engagement, the Chapter chants the Litanies of the Eclipse, somber hymns transmitted through vox or performed in silence during stealth operations. These rituals sanctify the battlefield, unify the Chapter in purpose, and focus the warriors’ minds on the Emperor’s will. The Eclipsion, a secret council convened once every century under a dying star, renews the Chapter’s oaths and interprets visions to guide future actions. Only senior officers and Cantors attend, and its location is strictly confidential.
Chaplains, called Cantors, serve as both spiritual leaders and moral enforcers. They lead battlefield prayers, conduct the Eclipsion, and sanctify scavenged wargear, ensuring every action aligns with the Emperor’s guidance. Cantors often accompany boarding teams or surgical strike units, intoning prayers that focus the Battle-Brothers and preserve the purity of their actions, particularly in morally ambiguous situations. Their authority is absolute within the Chapter, and their word is considered an extension of the Emperor’s will.
The Chapter’s moral code emphasizes precision, discipline, and restraint. Indiscriminate violence is avoided, with surgical strikes and voidborne operations favored to minimize collateral damage. Mercy is extended to civilians and compliant Imperial forces, while corruption and heresy are punished without compromise. The Eclipsed Sons’ interventions, such as their mediation during the Drowned Spire Massacre, reflect a belief that faith must temper war and guide righteous action.
While the Chapter lacks many pre-Heresy relics, salvaged wargear is ritually purified and sanctified, believed to be imbued with the Emperor’s light through devotion and prayer. Observing signs in battle and interpreting celestial omens remain central to their strategy, influencing decisions where logic alone may be insufficient. Their secretive nature and fleet-based operations allow commanders to act decisively while maintaining spiritual alignment, though the Inquisition continues to monitor the Chapter, cautious of their unorthodox practices but compelled to respect their repeated demonstrations of loyalty.
Chapter Gene-Seed[]
Genetic Flaws[]
The Eclipsed Sons display remarkably consistent health, strength, and resilience, exceeding what is typical even for Astartes. They suffer from few of the common genetic issues that affect other Chapters, and their reflexes and endurance are unusually reliable. Observers have occasionally noted their striking appearance and near-uniform perfection, but these traits are generally attributed to rigorous training and selective recruitment. The true nature of their gene-seed remains a matter of speculation, though the Chapter itself maintains that devotion and discipline are the source of their strength.
Combat Doctrine[]
The Eclipsed Sons conduct warfare with relentless precision and spiritual focus, excelling in combat across the void. Their operations are built around voidborne assaults, where Thunderhawks insert strike squads onto enemy vessels and installations at critical points. These boarding actions are meticulously coordinated, with Duskborn veterans leading teleportation strikes from ship to ship, swiftly overwhelming key enemy positions and neutralizing command structures before the foe can respond. In the vacuum of space, every maneuver; from the deployment of boarding torpedoes to the synchronized clearing of corridors, is planned with surgical exactitude.
While the Sons excel in voidborne warfare, they are fully capable of fighting planet-side, engaging heretical forces, pirates, or xenos with the same discipline and zeal as they do in the void. Ground campaigns are approached with precision and coordination, emphasizing surgical strikes, rapid response, and strict control of firepower to minimize collateral damage.
During fleet engagements, the Sons strike with a balance of aggression and restraint. Orbital bombardments are used sparingly and with precise calibration, designed to fracture enemy morale, destroy critical infrastructure, or deny strategic resources, all while minimizing collateral damage to civilians and allies. Their ships operate in tight formations, supporting boarding operations with concentrated fire and maintaining cohesion even under chaotic conditions.
The Chapter’s martial culture emphasizes relentless action, spiritual vigilance, and close-quarters lethality. Each warrior is trained to fight with clarity of purpose, whether breaching bulkheads with a boarding axe, coordinating strike teams across multiple decks, or directing void gun batteries to support the assault. The Eclipsed Sons move as a single organism across void and vessel, turning space itself into a battlefield where discipline, faith, and ferocity combine to shatter enemies. Through this mastery of void warfare, the Chapter demonstrates that the Emperor’s will is carried into every star system they enter, leaving only the wreckage of their foes and the unbroken light of their devotion behind.
Members of the Eclipsed Sons are occasionally seconded to the Deathwatch, particularly when their expertise in voidborne operations, teleport insertions, and precision boarding is required. Their deep faith and experience in interpreting signs from the Emperor make them valuable assets in missions that demand both spiritual resolve and tactical precision. While serving in the Deathwatch, Eclipsed Sons maintain their distinct rituals and hymns, often using the Litanies of the Eclipse to inspire squads and sanctify objectives. Their presence is generally respected by other Chapters, though some Watch Masters view their secrecy and intense devotion with caution. Despite this, the Sons’ effectiveness in combating xenos and performing surgical strikes in hostile space has earned them a reputation as steadfast and reliable allies within the Deathwatch.
Notable Members[]
Chapter Fleet[]
Chapter Relics[]
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colours[]
Chapter Badge[]
Relations[]
Allies[]
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
|---|---|---|
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The Eclipsed Sons first encountered the Hounds in M34 when a Hounds patrol was ambushed near the Shimmering Void. The Sons intervened to protect them, forging early trust. This trust was reinforced during their role as mediators in the Drowned Spire Massacre (Late M36), where their guidance helped restrain reprisals and ensure Imperial refugees were protected. | |
| Certain loyalist Knight Houses maintain discreet alliances with the Eclipsed Sons, supporting coordinated strikes and fleet operations. These relationships are largely formal and strategic, built on mutual respect. | ||
| Discreet Mechanicus factions assist in fleet maintenance and the sanctification of scavenged wargear, valuing the Chapter’s disciplined operations and respect for the Emperor’s light. |
Enemies[]
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
|---|---|---|
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The Eclipsed Sons oppose the Word Bearers due to their heretical practices and repeated incursions into Imperial space. The Sons have clashed with them during multiple campaigns and view them as a persistent threat to the Emperor’s guidance. | |
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The Eclipsed Sons oppose all forms of Chaos, including Chaos Space Marines, mortal cults, and daemonic entities. Any Chaos presence in Imperial space is met with swift and uncompromising action. | |
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The Eclipsed Sons combat Drukari raiders whenever they threaten Imperial worlds or convoys, particularly during raids on human populations in the void. | |
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Ork incursions into Imperial space are met with fleet and boarding actions by the Sons, aiming to destroy their warbands and prevent widespread destruction. | |
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The Eclipsed Sons engage Tyranid hive fleets whenever they threaten Imperial colonies or strategic points, focusing on containment and elimination of bio-threats. |
Enemies[]
Notable Quotes[]
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