This article, Penitent Knights, was written by Graythorne. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.
"To claim and seize glory for yourself is to shirk the Lord-Emperor's role in your victory. Such is an act of self-centered vanity that we deny! Your body, your soul, the very armaments that you carry now, that is our God's doing! There is no glory save what He bestows to us."
—Reclusiarch Marsidias Ashbringer
The Penitent Knights is a rare Codex-Divergent Chapter of Space Marines that have fought against the devious foes of Mankind since the Thirty Second Millennium, where the official records site they were established in the venerable 3rd Founding. Being of such advanced age, the Penitent Knights are atypical compared to their fellow Chapters; the Knights' sheer divergence from Roboute Guilliman's Codex Astartes' organizational dictates alone sets them apart from the earlier Founding Chapters, who often uphold the Codex as the very word of the Emperor Himself. Additionally, whereas many 3rd Founding Chapters have a reputation for being bloodthirsty and bellicose, this is far from the case with the Penitent Knights, who are instead beloved by the mortals under their charge in the Chapter's fortress-system of Aegimius.
While the Penitent Knights have a valiant record of victories and heroism to the Imperium's interests, the Chapter itself has no recollection of why or from whom they were founded. In truth, the High Lords of Terra long ago decided to withhold this knowledge from the Knights as a "form of punishment for their deviance from the Codex Astartes, and their outspoken principles regarding the value of human life--" or so is what the Chapter itself assumes. The High Lords have dismissed any questioning of their heritage. The mystery of their unknown gene-sire has created a sense of discomfort for some officials, but the superb quality of their gene-seed allays such fears.. Outside speculation would have others believe that the Knights are successors of the Dark Angels, and through them, Lion El'Jonson. The reasoning for this is the citation of the Chapter's themes of knighthood and redemption, and for the purity of their gene-stock. However, the Dark Angels themselves refute this claim and deny any connection to the Penitent Knights.
Many of the tales regarding the founding and establishment of the Penitent Knights are formed from sheer conjecture and light theories birthed from the innate discomfort of being bereft of answers. There exist no records of the original five high officers of the Chapter-- the original "Council of Lords", having served in any of the great loyal Legions during the Horus Heresy. It is known by most of the Chapter that the five were of such veteran age that they must have had extensive prior service. The few scholars that have delved into records thoroughly have noted reports during the Heresy of a small Blackshield group that fought against the Traitor Legions during the Siege of Terra, primarily against the hedonistic Emperor's Children. These Blackshields, hailed as the "Knights Penitent" by high Imperial authority, were led by an adept swordmaster named Archalus. They were so effective as a small strike-team that their expertise was welcomed in the Great Scouring after the Heresy. All other mentions of the so-called "Knights Penitent" have seemingly been erased from Imperial records. Despite this, and, strangely enough, according to the records of the 3rd Founding, the Penitent Knights were officially formed by marines under the same names as those that fought during the Scouring: Arcalus, Kveldor, Graynerius, Rosefal, and Baelant. Perhaps equally as curious, the Chapter's own records hold no Iconography predating the campaign on the Feudal World of Lor'dra, the planet that would eventually become the Penitent Knights' sacred homeworld.
"As we disembarked from our Thunderhawk, bolters and blades raised, even in our infancy, our fury saturated the ground with the blood of mindless beasts."
—Knight-Captain Balder Karn of the Order of the Gryphon, commenting on the Liberation
Highlord Archalus, the first Chapter Master of the Penitent Knights, was among the small number of Chapter Masters that eschewed the Codex Astartes. Thusly, he structured the Knights not into Companies, but into Orders. These Orders fulfilled the same purposes evident in a Company, but instead focussed on specific facets of combat and war, to be deployed alongside at least one other Order to achieve maximum effectiveness. The Orders were to be commanded by a Knight-Captain, chief amongst the brothers of his Order for prowess and a tactical mind.
Shortly after the Knights had amassed a sizable force of Astartes, Highlord Archalus led the Chapter on a patrol through Imperial space in the Segmentum Obscurus. Eventually, the Chapter encountered the planet "Lor'dra", which had been lost during the Age of Strife. Judging from their scans, they noticed it still held human life. The Knights descended onto the world to save the native humans from an eminent doom at the hands of indigenous wildlife. These beasts were highly specialized and deadly, proving challenging opponents even for the Astartes of the Penitent Knights.
Archalus pondered the fate of the humans he had saved, opting not to bring them into the Imperium as a civilized world, but rather he would make the planet the home world of the Penitent Knights to spare the populace from the rigors of Imperial life. Soon after, the nigh-impenetrable Fortress-Monastery of Galadhor was constructed and a massive city of the feudal humans shortly after, surrounding the new home of the Knights. As to acquire the best source of recruits for the Chapter, Archalus ordered groups of humans to venture across the harsh and often desolate lands of Lor’dra and endure hardships likely to produce strong and promising candidates to become Astartes.
The 7th Order, the Order of the Crow, was led by Knight-Captain Daedelus during the settlement of Lor’dra. Daedelus was always eager for war, infuriated by Archalus’ sympathy for the pitiful and lowly humans that were to be the Chapter’s new serf. Over the years following the construction of Galadhor, Daedelus and the Order of the Crow began to act against Archalus’ wishes, often abandoning their posts in the local Aegimius System to engage in warfare with their boltguns. The Scholars of the Chapter have theorized that Daedelus discovered the shadowed origination of the Chapter's gene-seed, leading to his downfall; but this is only a rumor.
"Let no tale of that day be told without mentioning the sinister evil of the Betrayer. Let there be no sermon within these halls without condemning the selfish and the treacherous."
—Knight-Chaplain Gorladain the Returned
Long before their betrayal, the Order of the Crow was notorious for being a bellicose and unforgiving company of the Penitent Knights Space Marine Chapter. On several occasions, their excesses had to be reigned in by their Chapter' s Chaplains, and on more than one occasion they were reprimanded by Highlord Archalus himself. The Order was led by Knight Captain Daedelus, a naturally malevolent soul, whose prowess as a warrior and reputation as a superlative tactician were often reasons enough to overlook some of his extreme excesses. Following one particular campaign, which has been deleted from the Penitent Knights archives, Knight Captain Daedelus and his warriors were formally reprimanded by Archalus for their dishonorable actions and the collateral damage that was left in the wake of the Order of the Crow's assault, which had resulted in an extreme loss of life amongst the Imperial civilians.
Instead of choosing to gravely punish Daedelus and his restless subordinates for disobeying orders, in his wisdom, he forced the Order of the Crow to humble themselves by forcing them to perform mundane patrol duties to protect the populated planets near the Aegimius System, the Chapter's Fortress-System. Unfortunately, the machinations of the Ruinous Powers are insidious, and they would not easily give up their potential prize, and so, through fate (or direct influence, though none can say for sure) when this force entered the Warp upon Archalus' Battle Barge, Brotherhood, they were set upon by a massive daemonic incursion in the ship. Mysteriously, the Gellar Fields on many of the Penitent Knights' vessels began to fail, and soon the Neverborn began to materialise aboard their ships and began massacring the ships' mortal crews.
During the height of the fighting, the Order of the Crows turned upon their brothers and assisted the daemons in killing those aboard the Brotherhood. This slaughter started in the lower decks, the daemons appearing and killing all the crewmen and stray Knights that stood in their path. Lord Scholar Graynerius, the Chief Librarian, alerted Archalus to the invasion of Chaos, directing the Lightbound to lock down choke points along the Brotherhood to either contain or slow the daemonic tide while Graynerius worked to speed them out of the Warp. It was at that point that the Crows turned, opening fire and throwing grenades at the backs of the Paladins of the Lightbound. However, the Order of the Lightbound raged and held off their traitor brothers and daemons for hours before the Battle Barge exited the Warp, the entire Order of the Lightbound slain during the betrayal. The Paladin Captain Fortareis was cut down saving the Highlord from a fatal blow. Their mutiny only partly successful, what remained of the Order of the Crow fled into the Warp with their new daemonic allies, to rebuild and give themselves wholly to their Dark Gods, eventually becoming the Crow's Children Chaos Warband.
Over the next few centuries, the Crow's Children began to raid and pillage across the entirety of the Asteria Sub-sector, leaving only grief and rubble in their wake. The new Chaos Marines reveled in their bloodshed, taking what they pleased whenever they desired. Once, they were noble warriors of the Emperor, but through the corroding influence of Daedelus and the Ruinous Powers, they razed worlds in the name of the Dark Gods. So much did they enjoy wanton slaughter and decadence, that Daedelus offered the entire Sub-sector to the Gods as a sacrifice, including their loyal brothers, the Penitent Knights.
Cursing his own ignorance and mourning the loss of the Paladins of the Lightbound, when Archalus returned to the Aegimius System, he ordered that two new Orders would be formed to avenge the evil wrought upon the Chapter; the Order of the Lightbringers would honor the martyrs of the Lightbound, and the Order of the Dawn would replace the Crows and always hunt and search for their wicked betrayers, slaying them with the cold fury that only the repentant can know.
Following years spent in the Warp with their new Daemonic masters, the Crow's Children reappeared in the Aegimius System, and immediately set to laying waste to the Civilised World of Sanus and its young Imperial settlements. Descending upon the helpless populace with their Corvian-styled jump-packs, the Children massacred all they could see, reducing cities to rubble in a matter of hours with their Warp-forged weaponry. The Penitent Knights, however, rushed to annihilate the traitors with all speed, but alas arrived days too late to save the civilians of Sanus due to the Children virtually destroying all communication from the planet. When the Knights arrived on planet, they were greeted with a sea of bones and broken buildings. But in Thadeliv, Sanus' capital, the Crow's Children erected grand effigies of the Chaos Gods from the metal and bone reaped from the innocents of Sanus. A fierce battled followed as the loyal and traitor marines engaged within the confines of Thadeliv, with great costs to both sides. Archalus and Daedelus dueled in the throne room of the previous Planetary Governor, while the rest of the Knights fought in an almost berserk state against their traitor brothers, for both their betrayal and the devastation they had caused. Ultimately, Daedelus had eventually tired out the Highlord to the point where he was able to knock Archalus to the ground and rip off the Chapter Master's left arm from his body with his power fist before himself being wounded by bolter fire from Knight-Captain Balder Karn, of the Order of the Gryphon. Subsequently, the Crow's Children retreated back into the Warp using a portal they had crafted.
After the idols of the Chaos Gods had been utterly destroyed by the Penitent Knights, Archalus deemed that the barren world of Sanus would become the Cemetery World of Penance, an eternal reminder of the consequence of their failure to defend the innocent from the wicked jaws of the Children.
"Look upon those days, Squires, and know what almost was. How we all could have been damned, were it not for the hearts of heroes."
—Knight-Scholar Avernus
While Archalus had slain hundreds of enemy champions upon the battlefield, led a great many of successful assaults on raiding Chaos Space Marine and Ork forces throughout the Segmentum Obscurus, he ultimately was given a most dishonorable death, but not at the hand of a traitor or xeno. Archalus had always despised the general disregard of human life displayed by the government of the Imperium after the Emperor of Mankind could no longer rule it. Many of the planets that the Penitent Knights found with human life upon them in their Feudal stages or below, were often spared the governance of the Adeptus Terra and either were made into recruiting worlds or were later discovered by other Imperial entities.
There was undoubtedly a single act that sealed Archalus' fate, which was a speech the Highlord of the Chapter gave after routing an Ork WAAAGH! from the local Sub-sector. In this speech, Archalus dared to proclaim that "The tyrants in their halls of gold and bone look upon our charges -Humanity,- and see only numbers, faithful and loyal citizens of the Imperium are NOTHING to them! If the Emperor could still speak, He would be disgusted by what is done in His name!"
Not long after the Adeptus Terra was informed of the Chapter Master's angered and perhaps even traitorous words, it was decided to cleave off this problem but leave the Penitent Knights, as the Segmentum Obscurus would have been far less secure without them there. And so, noble Archalus was killed from the shadows by a turbo-penetrator round to the head.
The entirety of the Penitent Knights Chapter grieved the loss of their great and fearless Highlord, with all of the Knights called back to the walls of Galadhor to mourn Archalus. A grand funeral took place in the courtyard of the Fortress Monastery, the Knights assembled utterly silent for a full Terran week until a heated debate took hold of the Chapter. The Knight-Captains squabbled among themselves, including with the Council of Lords put in place by Archalus himself: The Lord Chaplain, Kveldor, the Reclusiarch. The Lord Forgemaster, chief among the Chapter's Techmarines. The Lord Scholar, Graynerius, the head Librarian. The Lord Apothecary, Lord Executioner and Lord Admiral, Baelant. With all of the Penitent Knights' leadership furiously debating whether to avenge the wrong done to them by those that opposed Archalus, the Chapter was paralyzed for two years until the stalemate was broken.
A Knight named Asterion rose from obscurity in the Order of the Dawn and entered the Council of Lords' gathering chamber and is said to have closed the large stone doors behind him, proceeding to speak with the Lords for five days straight, shaming them for allowing the Chapter bicker and fall from their duty even for the brief time they did. When the doors of the chamber reopened, the Lords emerged and proclaimed that Asterion would become the Lord Crusader, and lead the Knights on their quest to defend humanity and find redemption in the eyes of the Emperor. Another ceremony took place soon after, in which Asterion commanded the Orders of the Chapter to end their solace in Galadhor and to reemerge with their hearts hardened with the same zeal that they carried under the Highlord.
Unfortunately, Asterion would not have reigned long as Lord Crusader among his brothers. As most of the Chapter had obeyed his directive and left to reestablish their presence among the Sub-sector, a giant Necron Tomb was opened only a few kilometers from the Fortress Monastery, spilling out the unliving xenos across the plains of Lor'dra to massacre the feudal humans. With only the Orders of the Gryphon and Winterbound, Asterion led a charge into the Necron Tomb, the following battle bloody and costly for the Knights. Weighing his own life and those of the ones he could save, Asterion ordered all of his forces to retreat from the Tomb complex, and detonated explosives at key structural weaknesses in the Tomb to collapse it. With their new Lord Crusader martyred to protect them, the remaining Penitent Knights refused to give in to their grief ever again.
Noarilia was the center of the commonwealth System of the Asteria Sub-sector, prosperous and wealthy in its status. A perfect place to set a vile trap for the Penitent Knights, Daedelus knew. Under both the council of Peredrath the Sorceror and Savaathon the Dark Apostle, insurgents of the Crow's Children melded with the populace of Noarilia and waited for their time. Years past, until the Raptors of the Children descended upon the Governor's palace, violently tearing apart any PDF forces that stood in their way. Approximately an hour later, Daedelus himself broadcast a message across the entire planet.
"Denizens and wretches of the Imperium, hear these words. Your 'Governor,' is dead, his body being flayed by my brothers at this very moment. The weak Imperium cannot stand against us, blades of the Chaos Gods! Yes, you have all been lied to, nameless millions of slaves of the 'Emperor.' You know of what I speak- the nagging temptations you feel at every second, the suppressed desires you crave against the shackles of your law. NO MORE! Now, rise up, you who now know the truth of this universe! Chaos will have this galaxy, and all others! For now, that you have merely heard this simple truth, the Imperium sends its puppets to kill you all, because they fear the word of Chaos! Rise up, and deny your would-be murderers, or die like insects to their guns. The Gods accept all into their fold..."
—Anonymous
Within hours, the agents of the Warband ensured that indeed a full Chaos rebellion took place among the cities of Noarilia, the people engaging in dark orgies of slaughter and degeneration at will. Daedelus looked down from the Governor's palace and smiled darkly as the Gods were given more sacrifices, and more to their flock. And sure enough, the Penitent Knights came again to meet their enemy upon the field of war.
However, when the Orders of the Winterbound and the Cleansing Flame arrived in Noarilia's orbit, they saw that it was not merely the Crow's Children that were their enemy, but the corrupted populace. Torn as they never were before the death of Archalus by the order of the High Lords of Terra, the Knights faced a situation where both civilian and traitor had to be put to the sword. For hours, they heatedly argued the next course of action, and the weight of sinning to strike down a civilian or to let this atrocity go unanswered. In grief, they deployed into Noarilia's surface.
When personally seeing the full degeneration of the twisted populace, the Knights of the Winterbound and Cleansing Flame knew that a quick death would be a far better end to them rather than to be further turned from the Emperor's light. The purgation was a slow but steady process, emptying ravaged forests of concrete after another, until both Orders stood before the Governor's palace, and at that point, hundreds of the Crow's Children leapt from the shadows and surprise attacked the Knights. Daedelus himself glided down from the tallest balcony of the palace, swinging both his power fist and daemon sword into many Knights. A fierce and bloody battle followed, but both Knight-Captains of the Orders managed to drive off the Betrayer, and thus, the Children cackled maniacally as they ascended to another portal maintained by Peredrath the Ruiner. To this day, Noarilia is still a source of great shame on the Chapter of the Penitent Knights.
Notable Campaigns[]
Battle of Brant (361.M33) - After two centuries of relative peace in the Penitent Knights' home system, a Khornate Traitor Marine fleet assaulted the Aegimius System. The Knights, under the command of Lord Crusader Constantor, hurried to meet the heretical fleet at the Death World of Brant, bringing their nearly all of their own fleet to bear upon the enemy. It was indeed a long and bloody battle, both above the Death World, and upon it. The Khornate forces had strangely been scouring the surface of Brant for something when the Penitent Knights unleashed their Order of the Iron Lance, their assault bike and land speeder squads employing a hit-and-run tactic to wear down the on-foot Khornate berserkers until the last traitor standing was crushed beneath the treads of their mechanical steeds. Meanwhile above Brant, the Penitent Knights' fleet broke and bloodied the heretical enemy fleet until what little remained of it retreated back into the Warp. Being such a quick and decisive victory so soon after the Mourning Years, this battle emboldened the Knights and helped solidify their morale to lead them to absolution.
First Green Scourge (453.M33) - When a massive horde of Orks under the ambitious Warboss Griggasmasha arose from the Asteria Sub-sector, threatening to spill out to cause havoc in Segmentum Obscurus, the Penitent Knights did not hesitate to heed the call to action. Coordinating with other nearby Imperial forces, Knight-Captain Galehaut Abendor divided off the greenskin horde to be engaged individually targeted and destroyed. While Guardsmen regiments and other nearby Astartes Chapters dealt with the bulk of the xenos, Galehaut led the Penitent Knights of the Gryphon and the Dawn against a daring surprise attack on the Warboss on while he was trapped on the Mining World Hilsdrad. With over four of the Chapter's Orders deployed during the battle, Griggasmasha's host of greenskins was decimated and the Warboss was killed by Galehaut himself. And while the Knights could not completely eradicate the orkz, a Chapter Keep was built upon the ground Griggasmasha was slain, named "Greenward Redoubt" in honor of the battle that took place.
Burning of Ruecarro (731.M33) - The Asteria Sub-sector is for the most part, a wild and dangerous part of the void. Long had a particular System been a den and harbor of pirates and renegades, despite many attempts to cleanse it. However, among the dark and ill-used worlds there was an Exodite Eldar world. And for reasons unknown to the Penitent Knights, the said world, named Ruecarro by Imperial cartographers, was invaded by a massive army of daemons. Having portions of their fleet nearby, the Knights mobilized and entered the System to deal with the potential threat. Though, nearly all records of what transpired in the System have been lost, other than that Ruecarro was successfully destroyed, and that some groups of pirates were allowed to stay in the System, but if they left it, they also would be destroyed. This extremely lenient decree is a source of shame to the Knights, but they are compelled to honor it, and gladly punish the blackguards that disregard it. As another outcome of the Burning, is that the Exodite Eldar survivors blame the Penitent Knights for the destruction of their homes, and have developed a deep hatred.
Scouring of the Coven (863.M33) - There was a brief time in the thirty third Millennia when the Penitent Knights had deployed most of their Chapter to Crusades and wars away from their home System, and this time was exploited by a wicked and hedonistic Dark Eldar Kabal who raided and abducted many Lor'dranian natives from the planet while the Knights were away. This Kabal, known as Tainted Blood, were accompanied by strange fire-wreathed constructs that did their diabolical bidding like servants. When the Order of the Gryphon returned from a forgotten Crusade in the Gothic Sector, they arrived too late for many of their subjects and instead hatefully destroyed every Dark Eldar they could, before the xenos fled to the Webway with many humans as their slaves. To this day, the Knights see the grievous failure as a sin that must be removed with as much xeno blood as possible.
Galastram’s Charge (432.M34) - Patrolling the Sector on the hunt for foes of the Imperium, Lord Crusader Galastram and his fleet encountered a grave and dire situation: a Chaos invasion. The planet of Ostaenus had forces of the Dark Gods spilling across its surface while another Astartes Chapter hanged in orbit. The Penitent Knights beamed messages to the other Chapter’s fleet, and none were returned, only the fire of their guns, destroying one of the frigates accompanying the Knights' battle barge "The God-Slayer." Shortly after returning wrathful fire onto their aggressors, they received a distress call from Imperial Guard remnants upon Ostaenus' surface. The Guard were about to be overrun and their compound full of citizens would be filled with blood by traitor Space Marines. At that moment, the Lord Crusader Galastram Traitorbane made a decision to send the entirety of the Order of the Winterbound to evacuate the desperate Imperial Guard and their charges while he, his Knight-Exemplar, and the Order of the Lightbringers would use the God-Slayer's teleportarium to enter the renegade Chapter's battle barge. And so, the Order of the Winterbound under the command of Knight-Captain Liowain deployed on the crumbling Guard compound and held their line while their own Thunderhawk transports evacuated civilian and Guardsmen alike. They faced both renegade Astartes and full Chaos Marines, but managed to close of entire corridors with the use of their Shieldbearers and returned bolter fire to their hated enemy. Galastram, his Knight-Exemplar and the Paladins of the Chapter appeared suddenly amidst the serf and Marine in the battle barge's Command Deck, immediately swinging blade and firing bolt to all around them. The host of the Chapter's elite managed to seal off the Deck from the rest of the ship while they did their work, turning the barge's guns upon its own traitorous fleet. It was at that moment that the Lord Scholar Helleburn informed the Lord Crusader of the construction of a Chaos temple upon Ostaenus' surface. Later receiving the report from Knight-Captain Liowain that the Winterbound had evacuated the Guard and innocents but had taken tragic losses, Galastram turned the battle barge on a course to crash into the arising Chaos temple, and his host was teleported back aboard the Knights' "God-Slayer." Although they had fulfilled their duty by saving the lives of many civilians, the Order of the Honored had paid a high price for their duty. Reduced to only a few squads, themselves highly battered and bloodied. Knight-Captain Liowain grieved for the loss of his brothers, and requested that those they had saved be taken as Chapter Serfs to avoid the Inquisition killing them and making his brothers' sacrifice mean something. Needless to say, Galastram agreed.
Second Colonization (997.M35-009.M36) - While the rest of the Imperium was mired in the Nova Terra wars, the Penitent Knights were called upon to aid and escort numerous recolonization efforts to the Asteria Sub-sector. These efforts included other infant Astartes Chapters and also mere repopulation missions to suitable worlds. During these years, the Penitent Knights displayed their familiarity with their home Sub-sector, as well as their staunch bravery while fighting off native xenos races on worlds to be habituated.
Age of Apostasy - During the bloody and ruthless reign of Goge Vandire, the Penitent Knights were among the Astartes Chapters branded as heretics for adamantly opposing the High Lord's bloodthirsty abuse of power. So soon after the recolonization of the Asteria Sub-sector, the Knights found themselves with the duty of protecting the young developing worlds across the Sub-sector from the Ecclesiarchal forces of Frateris Templar sent to punish them. Such worlds were the major Forge World of the Sub-sector, and the future home of the Astral Warriors Chapter, Asteria. Even the Knights' homeworld of Lor'dra was attacked by the Templar, though the Ecclesiarchal soldiers soon discovered that it may be a Feudal planet, there were many hidden Planetary Defense Cannons and laser installations hidden among the vast mountain ranges of Lor'dra, cutting the enemy vessels apart before any damage could be done to the Knights' serfs.
Purgation of Chyria (473.M38) - When called to join a small Crusade to put down a rebellious Imperial System, the Penitent Knights were hesitant to join the slaughter, but the Council of Lords concluded that they had turned from the Emperor, and they had chosen their fate, mournfully. And thus, the Orders of the Cleansing Flame and the Dawn were dispatched to the troublesome System and were met by another Astartes Chapter, the Templarii Scientiae. Together, the rebels of the Chyria System were ravaged and laid low, but ultimately spared from a much harsher fate that would be delivered by another Chapter. Only those that had taken up arms against the Imperium were killed, and any that repented for the sins of their System were allowed to live. When the Knights and Templarii besieged Chyria's Forge World, the Astartes first met stiff resistance for several days by the traitorous Hereteks, until the impatient and agitated Templarii decided to show off the contents of their armoury. As warengines of ancient design rolled once more onto the field, they brought with them merciless oblivion. Those that dared to form a resistance, soon found themselves wiped from the face of the planet, any trace of heresy was promptly annihilated. At the end, any remaining, non corrupted, technologies, forge complexes and data were handed over to the Mechanicus as was the usual process and both chapters received rewards in form of a few exotic technologies.
Rise of Lions (753.M38) - During a seeming golden age for Lor’dra, suffering no attacks by Necron or other forces, the Penitent Knights began again to patrol the Asteria Sector. They found a young Chapter of Astartes, the Astral Warriors, beset by a foul warband of Iron Warriors allied with the Dark Mechanicus. Never ones to abandon cousin Astartes in their time of need, the Knights under the command of Knight-Captain Gaherion Morn, leader of the Order of the Gryphon, mobilized and made a decisive and quick strike against the traitor warband, the Steel Ravagers. After a day of bloody combat, naval and planetside, the Ravagers were driven back into the Warp after grievous casualties despite their evil and devious weaponry provided by the Dark Mechanicus. Before taking his force onward, Gaherion, with the Lord Crusader’s authority, declared the Astral Warriors allies of the Penitent Knights for their impressive display of valor during the battle.
Vya Empire Extermination (080-085.M40) - Becoming increasingly active in the continuously threatened Asteria Sub-sector, the Penitent Knights heeded the call for a Crusade against a growing Xenos empire on the borders of Asteria, the Vya. Originally a campaign to be undertaken solely by the Imperial Guard, until the Vya proved themselves to be servants of the Chaos Gods, with extreme possession and daemon-summoning present among the alien race's tactics. Thus, the Astral Warriors and the Storm Zealots Chapters met the Penitent Knights' Orders of the Cleansing Fire and the Dawn at the edge of the Xenos controlled space and massed their forces for a relentless expurgation of the entire Vya Empire. Taking leadership as the senior of the three Chapters, the Knights and their allies conducted the Extermination with cold and merciless hate for the Chaos-worshiping aliens and found respect for their much younger brothers-in-arms, and the easy cooperation that flowed between the Knights, Warriors and Zealots had all fifty worlds purged and liberated from the Vya's control, though with heavy losses from the aliens' sheer depth of Chaos influence. With the Vya race ultimately destroyed, the Penitent Knights had accrued an honor roll that warranted the rare privilege of siring a new Successor Chapter, which the High Lords of Terra heatedly debated. With the recommendation from both the Astral Warriors and Storm Zealots, valiant Chapters in their own right, won over the High Lords and the Heralds of the Storm were formed during the 25th Founding later in the 40th Millennium.
Sansor Crusade (444.M40) - Greenskins are arguably the most constant threat to the worlds of Asteria, with warbands of Orks raising on the back-water planets all of the time but can be and usually are quelled by the valiant Imperial Guard. But sometimes, such monsters among the xenos arise and cannot be dealt with by the Militarum, such was the situation with a great WAAAGH! unleashed from the forgotten Sansor System, home to five planets rife with green hordes. The Penitent Knights' Orders of the Dawn and Gryphon arrived in the system and were met with fellow Astartes; vessels from the Rebutors Chapter had also come of their own accord, being on their so-called "Crusade of the Ages." The two Chapters then communicated back and forth, agreeing to combine forces to bring about a swift end to the war of besieging Ork-infested planets. Indeed, the Rebutors and Knights seemed to fight beside one another with great efficiency and comradeship and Sansor was slowly but surely crushed by the might of the Emperor's finest. During the climatic battle on Sansor III, the entire combined force of Rebutors and Knights created a deathly ambush in the jungles for the WAAAGH!'s Warboss and his green tide, where hours and hours of bloody battle was done, and the Space Marines lifted the Warboss' severed head high and his underlings ran back to their holes, to be destroyed by orbital fire. Before the Penitent Knights bade farewell to the Rebutors, they gifted to the sons of Dorn a Power Maul, with an inscription bearing the words "Retribution be Swift" upon its haft.
Second Green Scourge (653.M40-656.M40) - Once again the Aegimius System came under siege by a great green tide of Orks in the 40th Millennium, but unlike the previous instance of massive war against the greenskins the Penitent Knights had conducted, they now faced an incredibly dangerous Klan of extremely large Orks. Calling themselves simply "Biggunboyz," the xenos were of great individual stature, and the Klan's leader, a Mekboy named Thulgrom Gravesmasha, was known to be the size of dreadnoughts of the Penitent Knights. Needless to say, this fearsome attribute observed by Planetary Defense Forces defending against the raiding Klan was enough to send for the aid of the Knights. When they had thought they would simply perform a surgical strike to slay the Mekboy Thulgrom Gravesmasha, the Knights discovered that the vile greenskin would be possessed of a mind and managed to hide from the wrath of the Astartes, making instead slowly but surely thin the alien horde, until Thulgrom appeared on the battlefield beside his biggest boyz and wrought havoc on the Penitent Knights' line. Then the Lord Crusader's Knight-Exemplar in their ten blades strength surrounded the monster and fought with their lives, being reduced to four men before Thulgrom was brought low by a power sword through his throat. Their chief dead, the Biggunboyz scattered across the Sub-sector, where they were exterminated by Imperial Guard elements.
Kilandros Crusade (271-276.M41) - In the 270.M41, the Mad Skullz Orks of the planet Kilandros and surrounding systems formed into WAAAGH! Golrag. WAAAGH! Golrag was large enough to not only devastate the Celtic Sector in the Segmentum Ultima, the home sector of the Iron Spears Chapter, but seven other nearby sectors as well. That was not all, as in 271.M41 the Imperium launched a reconnaissance strike on WAAAGH! Golrag's "capital world" of Kilandros and discovered the Orks were attempting to convert their homeworld's moon into a mobile fortress they dubbed 'Da Great Rok'. The Orks planed to use 'Da Great Rok' as the flagship that would lead WAAAGH! Golrag in an assault on Terra itself. To combat this threat, the Imperium deployed a fighting force consisting of numerous Imperial Guard Regiments, at least three Titan Legions, and several notable Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes including; Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Imperial Fists, Space Wolves, Salamanders, Black Templars, Storm Wardens, Blood Ravens, Iron Spears, Charnel Brethren, Death Templars, Angels of Salvation, Mordekaisers, Holy Hospitallers, Sons of Odin, Knights of Guilliman, Penitent Knights, Astral Paladins, Steel Crusaders, Storm Riders, and the Corvus Legion. The Imperium believed that such a large force they would easily be able to smash through the planets held by the Mad Skullz Klan, however this was not the case as the Ork WAAAGH! was far larger than initially believed. After five years Imperial forces finally arrived at the Kilandros System and attacked 'Da Great Rok'. Though while Imperial forces failed in their initial plan to disable the thrust system using meltabombs, the Astartes of the Storm Riders and the Corvus Legion managed to gain control of the area around the primary power generator and rigged it with manually activated incendiary devices. The Imperial forces were ordered to withdraw so that the power generator may be detonated. By then however, many Iron Spears had fallen victim to the Red Thirst, ignoring the order to withdraw and instead focused on personally slaughtering every Ork present, inspiring the Death Templars to do the same. It was left to the more "level-headed" Chapters such as the Angels of Salvation to successfully reign in the frenzied Iron Spears and forcibly remove them from the battlefield. It was through this that the Angels of Salvation earned the respect of the Iron Spears, something that could not be said for many sons of the Lion. Chieftain Thoore of the Iron Spears, having had his honor stained in a previous engagement, elected to stay behind with the detonator alongside a small group of other Marines while the other Imperial forces escaped in order to restore dignity to his name. The destruction of the primary power generator not only successfully destroyed "Da Great Roks" machinery, but also created massive tectonic upheavals that killed all the Orks on the planetoid. Despite their victory, the Imperium was once again unable to eliminate the Ork presence on Kilandros and the surrounding systems. The Imperium once again turned to conducting periodic raids in order to limit the Ork population and prevent further Ork expansion.
"Thou shalt not yield, thou shalt not falter, and thou SHALT send them screaming back to whatever gods they think can save them!"
—Lord Crusader Pelinus leading his forces against the Crow's Children in the feudal city of Stormguard
Red Dawn (540-544.M41) - After many years of relative uneventful peace on Lor’dra, a new threat emerged from the red plains. Untold millions of Necrons emerged from their tombs under the command of the Necron Lord Luxthoris, the Granted. This unliving scourge destroyed all in its path and massed for a siege on Galadhor. The Orders of the Lightbound and Cleansing Flame had taken the duty of recuperating from war and manning the sacred Monastery and fought with hate in their hearts, and a thousand fold more when their ancient nemesis, the Crow’s Children, appeared from the Warp and descended on Stormguard. Lord Crusader Pelinus, took forces from the Orders present, commanded by Paladin-Captain Vitalleus Fortareis and Knight-Captain Derrius Kveldor, and hurried to the defense of Lor’dra’s civilians while the remaining Knights held their Monastery. By the time Pelinus' forces descended into Stormguard, the heretical traitors had already begun to inflict horrors upon the people, with Daedelus at the center of the carnage. The Knights began the task of cleansing the colossal city of their foe while the Lord Crusader's Exemplar fought the Betrayer in single combat, a champion named Graythorne. This duel is said to have lasted hours before Graythorne emerged from the smoke with the severed head of the ancient Chaos Lord. His weapons and armor rent, he fought and slayed all remaining traitors that dared challenge the victorious Exemplar before Paladin-Captain Vitalleus found him to inform him that the city was saved, but Galadhor was near to fall. The defending Knights, under the command of the Lord Chaplain Marsidias, had signaled their off-world brothers and allies, the Ebon Fists, the Astral Warriors, and the Rebutors for aid. Even after the Lord Crusader’s force returned to the Monastery, it was nearly broken. The Knights bitterly fought and did not dare give the Necrons ground before the reinforcement arrived. However, the defenders of Galadhor were reinforced by the returning Orders of the Chapter, which deployed it's entirety of Knight-Hussar biker squads, landspeeders, and tanks onto the surface of the planet. Over the span of days, the mobile force continued to harass and destroy key elements of the Necron forces to alleviate the pressure on the Knights manning the Fortress Monastery, before allied ships tore open the Warp and emerged above Lor'dra's orbit. With the combined forces of the Ebon Fists and Astral Warriors Astartes Chapters, Luxthoris' army was forced to retreat back to the Tombs below. But not before slaying Lord Pelinus in combat, before himself being destroyed by a merciless Broken Arrow rained artillery upon the battlefield. The following years were spent destroying and driving back the remaining necron forces scattered across the world. Battered and nearly devastated, the Penitent Knights struggled to rebuild their ranks after the heavy toll the Chapter had suffered. They had lost a great deal of their battle-brothers, but in the end, the Penitent Knights had survived the bloody "Red Dawn".
Defense of Vaeturn (006.M42) - With the Cicatrix Maledictum torn open and the galaxy split in twain, the Penitent Knights began efforts to reinforce the Aegimius System against the horrors pouring out of the enormous Warp Rift. With the entirety of the Chapter's fleet defending the Fortress-System, the minions of Chaos were held at bay for a few brief years until a host of Chaos Marines broke through a weakness in the Penitent Knights' void patrols and were poised to assault Aegimius' Forgeworld Vaeturn. And thus, the Primaris of the Orders of the Winterbound and Gryphon were given their first challenge in a hurried support of the Forgeworld. However, due to the seeming dour nature of the Primaris Knights, unit cohesion was much more difficult between the new and old guard. Moreover, the Primaris Knights argued that it was best they focus on protecting solely the crucial factorums and leave the hab-blocks undefended, to the deep chagrin of their older brothers. While most of the Primaris accepted their orders, Primaris-Sergeant Alissar abandoned his quarter of civilian housing to reinforce the factorums, leaving the mortal workers to be slaughtered in their homes by Chaos' minions. When after days of continued war, Vaeturn was successfully defended, Alissar was shown the thousands of innocents slain by his disregard for them. And so, in shame and guilt, Alissar became the first Primaris Justicar, to mete out death to the Chapter's enemies armed with only a power sword to atone for deeds committed.
Rift Bridge Salvation (015-20.M42) - In a joint operation with the Space Marine Chapters of Sub-sector Asteria, the Penitent Knights and their allies began securing a path through the Maledictum with a great congregation of Astropaths and Librarians. With the forces of the Astartes Chapters, the Imperials spent years successfully defending the constructed void station that oversees the Rift Bridge. And so, the Asteria Sub-sector had a more reliable way of crossing the galaxy-splitting Warp Rift.
Ambush at Storl IV (102.M42) On direct orders from Lord Crusader Graythorne, the Order of the Winterbound under Lord Executioner Palodern Hilderic, which was still bolstered by large portions of Primaris Knights, was commanded to investigate strange reports of the Enemy was seeking to lay claim to the faltering Storl System. The famed relentless Order arrived at the borders of the Planetary System posthaste, and immediately were beset by a surprise assault made by Chaos Marines of frustrating familiarity, a Crow's Children Warband under the command of a Champion of Khorne, Halakhar. Undoubtedly guided into the ambush by Peredrath the Ruiner, the ruthless traitors assailed Lord Palodern's Strike Cruiser, Asterion's Ram, and forced the craft to land upon Storl IV, an Uninhabited World. The marines of Palodern's entourage had little respite before the Crow's Children then came at them from the ground, Chainswords and bolt pistols sounding wrath, with Halakhar himself charging at the fore of his brethren. Palodern, while being a master swordsman, was gravely wounded by the Blood Champion's double-bladed Chain Axe, but was spared death by the intervention of two Marines- Justicar Alissar and the Winterbound's champion, Galadeus Foeflayer. Alissar, still ashamed of his sins during the Defense of Vaeturn, fought off Halakhar before also falling to the blood-crazed Champion. Galadeus, who had charged to the Lord Executioner's side to protect him, defended his wounded Knight-Captain with his famed Power Axe before carrying him and a few other brothers back onto Asterion's Ram and taking command of the vessel, even after the ship returned to the rest of the separated void force, uniting it under the banner of vengeance for Palodern, for Lor'dra, thus fully securing Storl after a week. The Knight-Champion's heroics were recognized as essential to the Order's objective and proved himself a capable leader in the act. The Lord Executioner's injuries, however, were unfortunately so severe that he was committed to the fate of a Dreadnought. Before entering the sarcophagus, Palodern declared that should the Lord Crusader find it acceptable, the Foeflayer would be a fine replacement for him. Expectedly, the Penitent Knights' Chapter Master agreed with his friend, and Galadeus was given the high of honor of ascending to the Council of Lords as Executioner, tasked with hunting down those that martyred Palodern Hilderic and send their souls to the God-Emperor for judgement.
Organization[]
As the Penitent Knights are heavily inspired by the culture of medieval warriors, much of their terminology is derived from chivalric societies. The Knights also disregard the Codex Astartes in favor of their own tried and true methods and systems, barring the practice of Legion building. Instead of Companies, the Chapter is made of Orders, each specializing in a specific form or kind of battle, such as close quarters combat, or the use of flamer and melta weapons as examples.
Command Ranks[]
Knight-Exemplar
Of the many honors achievable to the Penitent Knights, to be named among the Knight-Exemplars and directly serve the Lord Crusader as his honor guard, is the highest many hope for. Selected personally by the Lord Crusader, Exemplars are given specially made masterwork arms and armor and serve as both elite bodyguards and replacements for slain officers. This second purpose extends to the Lord Crusader himself, and is primarily how a successor is chosen.
Knight-Captain
The esteemed leader of an Order of the Chapter, Knight-Captains embody the ideals of the Penitent Knights, noble of heart and wrathful in battle. Once a Knight of an Order to appointed to Knight Captain by the Council of Lords, he inherits the relics and trappings of his predecessor.
Lord Admiral (Master of the Fleet)
Supreme commander of the naval forces of the Penitent Knights' fleet, the Lord Admiral is a battle-brother of venerable age with a gifted mind of strategy. When the entire Chapter and its Orders engage in battles in the void, they are coordinated by the Lord Admiral, to both keep as many of their brothers' lives and to take the enemy's.
Lord Forgemaster (Master of the Forge)
Exemplary in all they craft and maintain, Lord Forgemasters are elected to the Council of Lords based upon the quality of what they create, and for their dedication to the Chapter and its goals. Often artificer grade power swords or pieces of power armor are fashioned by the Lord Forgemaster, centuries of practice of their craft and thousands of years of careful preservation of schematics and knowledge making the Lord Forgemaster a most worthy asset.
Lord Scholar (Chief Librarian)
Arduously selected for extreme resilience to the beings of the Warp, and for great study done of the Chapter's full history, Lord Scholars are revered among the Knights of the Chapter. So great is the retention and knowledge of the Lord Scholar displays, that they are entrusted with the most sacred tome of the Penitent Knights: the Arcana Clerica.
Lord Apothecary (Chief Apothecary)
Guardians of the sacred gene-seed of the Chapter, Lord Apothecary trains and recruits battle-brothers to the role of Apothecary, to mend their injured brothers and retrieve the gene-seed of the fallen. Responsible for the well being of all Knight-Brothers of the Chapter, the Lord Apothecary is a true master of healing, whilst also no stranger to killing with blade or bolter.
Lord Chaplain (Reclusiarch)
Tasked with overseeing the purity of the Chapter's Orders, Lord Chaplains are required to be truly fervent in their faith of the Chapter's duty and the righteousness of their deeds. When the Lord Chaplain is not reinforcing the spirits of the battle-brothers, or gathering promising recruits for the Chapter from their feudal recruiting worlds, he can be found almost always by the side of the Lord Crusader.
Lord Crusader
Revered by the Knights and infamous among the ranks of the enemy, the Lord Crusader is the Chapter Master of the Penitent Knights. A master strategist and legendary warrior, Lord Crusaders have been known to change the course of entire wars and the very future of the Chapter, harkening to the legacy of Asterion. A uniqueness to the rank is that it has other names given by the Lor'dranian peoples, including "King of Aelm," referring to the last feudal civilization that managed to survive the horrors of Lor'dra long enough for the Penitent Knights to arrive on the planet, and save the endangered humans.
Specialist Ranks[]
Forgemaster (Techmarine)
Charged with the upkeep and the manufacture of arms and armor for the Penitent Knights, Forgemasters are equally at home inside their armories in Chapter keeps as they are on the front lines of battle to both maintain and protect their Knight brothers as well as the Chapter's machines of war.
As their name suggests, Scholars are tasked with both the preservation of the Chapter's accumulated knowledge, and to use their psychic powers to bring doom to enemies that threaten their brothers and humanity. Nearly all Scholars are armed with force staves as well as sacred tomes of the Chapter, in which they have memorized every detail to heart. Scholars also record and detail events the Chapter takes part in, and actively seek knowledge about the origins of the Penitent Knights.
Knight-Consul
Whereas most of the ranks of the Penitent Knights are made solely for heavy combat, and rightly so, Consuls have another role. Mainly seen on expeditionary missions or far away Crusades, Consuls are appointed to play the part of diplomat to other Imperial forces, and always accompanied by either a squad of his brethren or a singular escort.
Line Ranks[]
The configuration of helmet colors associated with ranks within the Penitent Knights.
Squire (Scout)
The initiates of the Chapter, instead of being organized into a single company, are trained in a much more unorthodox manner. In the Penitent Knights' holy text, the Arcana Clerica, it is stated that each squad of five brothers shall be gifted with a squire to operate as a battlefield assistant and scout to his elder brothers. Squads of ten battle-brothers will have two of these Squires, but the Clerica states that more may be assigned to a Sergeant of great virtue and experience. On a Knight-Captain's command, all the Squires of his Order may be formed into a large scouting force, but such formations are temporary.
Knight (Tactical)
As one might expect, Knights are the standard unit of the Chapter, equivalent to that of a Tactical Marine. These warriors make up the backbone of the Chapter's fighting force, with the expertise of the individual Knight being shaped by the Order to which he was knighted into.
Knight-Banneret (Devastator)
The experts of heavy weaponry, Bannerets are the equivalent of Codex Devastators. However, Knight-Bannerets are not the youngest of the Chapter's marines, freshly uplifted to Power Armor. Instead, Bannerets are veterans and act as Sergeants in the Orders of the Gryphon, Cleansing Flame, and the Dawn. Their disciplined minds and skill with large firepower are used as both beacons and examples for their less experienced brethren. They are also utilized by the Order of the Winterbound, but mostly as the traditional heavy support units.
Knight-Crusader (Assault)
Perhaps the most common aspiration of a young and upcoming Squire is to one day catch the eye of the Knight-Captain of the Order of the Winterbound to become a Crusader. These particular Knights brandish melee weapons as extensions of their own bodies with the deft swordplay needed to truly make their deadly weapons fearsome.
Knight-Hussar (Bikers)
Utilizing the lightning-fast speed of assault bikes and land speeders, Hussars wield Power Sabers or even Power Spears, themselves seldom used by any Astartes Chapter, to batter the enemy force so that their mount-less Knight brethren find them easier to eradicate. Often are the more reckless and adventurous spirits of the Penitent Knights find themselves seated on the saddle of an assault bike with spear in hand.
Shieldbearer
A unique role employed by a few squads of the Orders of the Gryphon and the Dawn. These marines arm themselves with a boltgun and a Breacher Shield, sacrificing their accuracy for the ability to form a wall and give protection to those behind them. These proud and stalwart Knights are utilized in any scenario demanding as much protection or battlefield control as possible, and due to their specialize nature, they are selected by their respective Knight-Captains.
Justicar
When a Penitent Knight has committed a grave wrongdoing but is judged to not be executed, he is placed in a solitary vigil for an extended period of time, and has the chance of emerging from his sentence as a Justicar, eschewing the use of any weapon but a two-handed power sword or chainsword, which he uses to find redemption in the eyes of the Emperor, often in his death.
Paladin (Terminator)
To common Knights, to fight alongside a Paladin is the equivalent of their Knight-Captain himself shedding blood with them. Paladins are the esteemed Terminators of the Penitent Knights, their mere presence inspiring to other battle-brothers. Recruitment to their revered Order of the Lightbound occurs within the veteran squads of the other Orders, new Paladins themselves assembled into squads from different Orders to create versatility. A Knight-Captain's command squad of Paladins serve much the same purpose as the Lord Crusader's Exemplars, to shield their liege and stand ready to take command of his Order, temporarily or permanently.
Order of Battle[]
The Chapter's order of battle as of late M41 is as follows:
Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Chaplain, Savant & Apothecary)
Chapter Serfs
Armoury
Reclusiam
Apothecarion
Librarius
Fleet Command
Lord Forgemaster Glungorias the Craftsman, Master of the Forge
Techmarines
Servitors
Battle Tanks
Land Raiders
Gunships
Centurion Warsuits
Lord Chaplain Marsidias Ashbringer Master of Sanctity
Chaplains
Acolytum
Lord Apothecary Clagon Rosefall
Apothecaries
Chapter Serfs
Lord Scholar Arath Graynerius
Scholars
Polymath
Savants
Acolytum
Lord Admiral (Knight-Captain) Apolon the Unresting, Master of the Fleet
Battle Barges
Strike Cruisers
Rapid Strike Vessels
Thunderhawk Gunships
Companies[]
Veteran Order
Battle Orders
1st Order
2nd Order
3rd Order
4th Order
Order of the Lightbound (Terminators)
Paladin-Captain Vitalleus Fortareis Master of the Marches
Paladins (Terminator Honour Guard)
Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Chaplain, Savant & Apothecary)
Order of the Gryphon (Adaptive Warfare)
Knight-Captain Carastan Baelant Master of Relics
Paladins (Terminator Honour Squad)
Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Chaplain, Savant & Apothecary)
Knights (Tactical Squads)
Knights-Banneret (Devastator Squads)
Knights-Crusader (Assault Squads)
Knights-Hussar (Bikers)
Order of the Cleansing Flame (Flamer/Melta Weaponry)
Knight-Captain Derrius Kveldor Master of the Watch
Paladins (Terminator Honour Squad)
Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Chaplain, Savant & Apothecary)
Knights-Banneret (Devastator Squads)
Knights-Hussar (Bikers)
Order of the Winterbound (Close-Quarters Combat)
Knight-Captain Palogern Hilderic Lord Executioner
Paladins (Terminator Honour Squad)
Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Chaplain, Savant & Apothecary)
Knights-Crusader (Assault Squads)
Shieldbearers
Knights-Hussar (Bikers)
Reserve Order
5th Order
Order of the Dawn (Crusading Force)
Knight-Captain Apolon the Unresting Master of the Fleet
Paladins (Terminator Honour Squad)
Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Chaplain, Savant & Apothecary)
Knights (Tactical Squads)
Knights-Banneret (Devastator Squads)
Knights-Crusader (Assault Squads)
Shieldbearers
Knights-Hussar (Bikers)
Homeworld[]
"We may bloody and slay the foes of the Imperium across the stars, but remember where thou wert born- for it is half of the reason thou wert deemed worthy to join the Emperor's finest."
—Knight-Chaplain Dagovale
Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of Lor'dra, Chapter Homeworld of the Penitents. From orbit, Lor'dra's continent of Kainan can be seen during the summer.
Located within the Segmentim Obscurus, Asteria Sub-sector, the Penitent Knight homeworld of Lor'dra is a large planet with its native human population still in its Feudal stages, the population made divided into five major kingdoms with their own cultures and beliefs. The majority of the populace of Lor'dra has grown distant from their Astartes Lords since the Red Dawn, having formed many different religions that all find their origins in the Aegimian Cult, the faith of the Penitent Knights Chapter. Lor'dra is at most times a harsh planet, with only the continent upon which Galadhor was built, Kainan, being the lone area of acceptable fertility to grow edible flora. The other continents of the planet are mostly barren and desert-like, of extreme cold.
Fortress Monastery[]
"These obsidian walls have stood since the Thirty Second Millennium, brother. These walls have stood against nigh-civil war, vile slaves of the Ruinous Powers, uncounted hordes of Necrons. These walls are the Chapter, for we are the wall protecting our mortal charges. Galadhor is both our home, and our promise."
—Knight-Captain Carastan Baelant, commenting on Galadhor
The Fortress Monastery of Galadhor itself is located among the Eversilver Mountains, its fortified and nigh-impregnable walls of the palace spanning between the peaks of numerous mountains. The path to walk up to the grand fortress-palace is perilous, the journey upward haven being undertaken only a handful of times by the feudal citizens of the Knights, to glimpse their ancient saviors, or to give them offerings. Inside the Monastery, there are several Halls dedicated to each of the Chapter's Orders, as well as a sprawling tower known as Scholar's Epitaph to serve as the Librarium, and of course the obsidian-wrought Keep of Knight's Vigil, the Reclusiam, and where the Council of Lords convenes.
At the base of the Mountains was the single settled city of Lor'dra, Stormguard, as the natives called it. Constructed of stone and built into the side of the rising mountains and out onto the grassy plains, where most of the city's food was gathered. But now, after the Red Dawn, there are many different kingdoms sprawled across the surface of Kainan, the only continent habitable to humans.
Recruitment[]
"By the grace of Emperor’s Light, the Shield of Aelm, and the Sword of Avalon, I offer mine own self willingly in service of the Imperium, and its people. Mine own blade will stay the foe of our charges by the march of mine own boots, in worlds near and far. The declaration of thy faith rings true, and by the royal decree of the Emperor of Mankind and my appointed lieges, I will serve."
—Mantra of the Aspirant
As per the ancient proclamation of Highlord Archalus after the Liberation of Lor'dra, various warrior groups spread across the surface of the world, often pitting themselves against the remnants of the bestial horrors that once almost killed off the humans of Lor'dra. These warrior groups would retain their feudal culture and interact with each other as to not bear incestual children. Each seventeen years, a Knight, Chaplain, and Apothecary visited each warrior clan and glean the promising youths to become Squires of the Penitent Knights.
However, in recent times and with the establishment of numerous feudal kingdoms across Lor'dra's habitable surface, the Knights have taken to sending envoys across the kingdoms, or even are sent potential recruits through the preachers of the Asterian Cult, which the Penitent Knights helped establish upon the planet.
Gene-seed[]
The holy gene-seed of the Penitent Knights is said to be an enigma. While it has been noted for bearing "perfection" in its lack of any mutation or flaw, it is unknown from whence or whom it came. This unknown has long caused discomfort and even grief to the brothers of the Chapter, but it is borne as one of the many burdens the brothers must bear to atone for past sins. The installment of guilt into the Chapter's marines sometimes leads down a dark path of seeking redemption for crimes both real and imagined to the point of obsession.
Primarch's Curse: Eternal Penance[]
Level 1 (Spectral Shame)- Few living Penitent Knights can truly say from whence the full weight of the Chapter's shame springs, but what they feel is that in their unworthy state they must atone for the old sin of Daedelus' treachery in blood, theirs or the enemy's.
Level 2 (Legacy of Sin)- The Battle-Brother in question begins to lose hope for the Chapter's future, warranted or otherwise, and will hold despair in his heart. They will beseech and pray for the Emperor's forgiveness and favor constantly.
Level 3 (Atonement in Death)- The final stage of the curse is where the Knight eschews every single glory and honor offered to him, but demands that he becomes one of the Chapter's Justicars, sworn to die on the battlefield against the champions of the enemy and dedicate their death to the God-Emperor.
Combat Doctrine[]
"Trust thy brothers to grind them to dust, as they trust thee to guard their flank!"
—Knight Sergeant Carlican
The Knights follow a doctrine adhering to a extremely versatile philosophy of battle with the Orders of the Chapter alternating between varied specialties of combat, always deploying alongside at least one other in battle. In battle, the Orders will effortlessly form joint squads with each other, overseen by Knight-Captains who oversee the control of the battle. While they fight in ranged engagements with stern determination, the Penitent Knights greatly enjoy close quarters combat, brandishing power weapons with learned righteous ferocity. When the enemy force has been withered or shows signs of weakening, the elite Order veteran squads enter the fray and utilize their superior weaponry and experience to demolish the enemy.
However, the Penitent Knights rarely leave their sub-sector on Crusades, preferring to turn their attention to all of Asteria's borders and its people. This minimizes the exposure others have to the Chapter's deviance from the Codex Astartes, as well as their sect of the Imperial Cult.
Chapter Culture[]
Chapter Banner of the Penitent Knights, adorned with several campaign badges from their most honorable victories
The culture of the Penitent Knights follows many doctrines of a chivalric order, valuing honor and valiant service in the highest regard. Last names for Battle-Brothers of the Chapter are reserved for the more distinguished Knights, usually for those that achieve the rank of Knight-Sergeant, or those who display grand acts of valor and courage. The act of receiving a surname is a sacred ceremony for the Knights, a Chaplain will have the honored Knight kneel before him and touch each of the brother's shoulders with crozius twice and bid him rise, and bestow the second name upon him. Sometimes said name is reminiscent of the Knight's heroic deed, or the name of a hero of old Lor'dra.
The Knights of the Chapter share a special bond with their Serfs. All Knights are taught to not look down on their human servants, and to treat them with courtesy and generosity. Occasionally, Chaplains and Forgemasters will mingle with the Serfs, telling them tales of noble Knights of old and present and guidance for their duties. On the rare times when Galadhor comes under siege, the Serfs gladly take up arms to fight alongside their masters. The Serfs hold rank, much like the Knights themselves. These ranks are “Labourer, Hand, Servant, and Page.” Pages, being the most regarded of the Serfs, have the opportunity to become a Squire, if they can survive another Squire in a contest of Melee for three minutes without being knocked unconscious.
Even the way of speaking for the Chapter regressed to medieval forms, sometimes causing slight confusion for any allied forces fighting alongside the Knights.
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colors[]
The Penitent Knights wear primarily bright silver armor with golden shoulder-pad trims. The plates of the shoulders and the Aquila or Imperialis on the chest being sable black. The company heraldry is shown in white on the left poleyn, painted black.
Chapter Emblem[]
The Chapter's Symbol is a alabaster lion standard on a field of black.
Chapter Beliefs[]
"Shame is a virtue."
—Penitent Knights proverb
The Penitent Knights long debated the idea of the Emperor of Mankind being a deity, and often ask themselves- is better to serve the god of humanity, or a man that could challenge gods? Thus, for a long time the Knights had maintained a neutral stance on the Imperial Cult, until the days of the Fortieth Millennium. A new sect had arisen in a neighboring Planetary System, one affected by the long-ingrained humanitarianism of the then venerable Chapter. Soon this version of the Imperial Cult eventually was introduced to the Penitent Knights after fending off an Ork warband, and priests of the new sect praising the Knights and their actions. When conversing with the present Knight-Captain, the priests requested that they spread their faith in the sanctity of all human life to the Chapter's home system, and they were granted. Surrounded by their subjects proclaiming that the Penitent Knights were quite literally doing the Emperor's appointed task for them, the Chapter grew warmer to the idea of their Emperor as a god, and became quite commonplace among the Knight-Brothers.
As the origination of the Penitent Knights' gene-seed is a mystery as ancient as the Chapter itself, they revere all of the loyal Primarchs respectively for the traits they personified. Lion El'Jonson as a commander and knight, Jaghatai Khan for his tenacity and desire to unite humanity, Leman Russ for martial skill, Rogal Dorn for honor and stoic zeal, Sanguinius for nobility and sacrifice, Ferrus Manus for championing the strength of humanity, Roboute Guilliman for tactics and statecraft, Vulkan for his stalwart and honorable nature, and Corvus Corax for cunning and precision.
Chapter Relics[]
The Arcana Clerica[]
Arguably the most treasured artifact in the possession of the Penitent Knights alongside the sword Avalon, the Arcana Clerica is an ancient tome of the Chapter that bears the entirety of the Knights' history, tales of far past exploits, records of wars long forgotten perhaps from the Horus Heresy itself, the dictates of Highlord Archalus, and many other such topics. As one might surmise, the Arcana Clerica contains thousands and thousands of pages, the size of the tome itself growing over the many Millennia since its creation, with each new addition penned by the Lord Scholar of the Chapter in the book's Index Penitent, the section which details campaigns and wars, their outcomes and secrets learned from said exploits.
But the Arcana Clerica does not merely hold the records of the Chapter. Indeed, it is akin to the Codex Astartes in that the tome contains battle stratagem in the Tacticum Penitent penned by the Highlord himself. One important excerpt from the passages that the Knights proudly adhere to is: "In accordance with the specialties and proficiency of each Order of the Penitent Knights, never shalt one Order fight alone in wars near and far. Trust in thy battle-brothers, those that may hold sword whilst thou may incinerate the enemies of the Imperium with flamer, or vice versa. Always will we Knights fight in unity, with brothers familiar and distant."
Another section of the Clerica that continues to grow is that of the Record of the Honored which, as the name implies, displays the names and deeds of heroes of the Chapter, and even later on, those of the Heralds of the Storm. For the Lord Scholar to record these battle-brothers, he has deemed that they cannot be allowed to fade into the obscurity of myth or be forgotten. Instead, they shall live on through the sacred pages of the tome.
However, there is one particular theory penned by an anonymous Lord Scholar, featured in the book that states that even in his time, the Penitent Knights did not know the origins of their Chapter, but that rumor amongst the Lords was that, quoting:
"Considereth for a few passing moments, that we noble of mind and deed, mayhap be of an origination not entirely so. Forsooth, we of the Emperor's finest, of no father and no Legion, art an enigma amongst our brethren. Our sympathies for the timid and those whom cannot defend themselves sundreth us from many of our kin, whilst we do not share the mutations plaguing the noble Salamanders of Vulkan.
Alas, in mine own visions gifted by the aether, I see Astartes clad in purple; an eagle's screech of betrayal and rage. I see lamenting of fooled warriors, of depravity engulfing a legion of nobility. And lastly, I see a fiery phoenix rising from darkness."
Weapons[]
Relic Blade "Avalon"
The legendary Relic Blade Avalon, its power field deactivated.
A weapon so treasured and valued as to almost be a symbol of the Chapter itself, this incredibly rare artifact has been wielded by many Lord Crusaders, having claimed thousands upon thousands of xenos, traitors, and daemons. Currently, this exalted sword that has stricken down foes as if they were driftwood, is in the care of the Lord Crusader Graythorne. A weapon so ancient as to have been Highlord Archalus' personal weapon. Indeed, one of the final trials to become Lord Crusader of the Penitent Knights is to take up the ancient weapon and display their mettle by proving themselves worthy of the sword.
Relic Blade "Edictus"
A highly peculiar sword resembling that of a blade forged by the Black Templars; its source remains unknown. It is a blade of holy flame, sported with inscriptions and an ornate hilt. It is said to match the power of Avalon, yet this is simply a rumor. The blade has the power to create a wake of flame in the air to be manipulated by the swordplay of the wielder. Currently, this famed blade is and has always been in the hands of the revered Derrius Kveldor, Knight-Captain of the Knights' 3rd Order.
Combi-melta Boltgun "Fury"
A venerated combi-Boltgun of mastercraft make, forged by the Lord Forgemaster, Glungorias. Truly, a weapon that could rival those of the Mechanicus. Currently wielded as a secondary weapon alongside Avalon by the Lord Crusader.
Modified Thunder Hammer "The Grey Fist"
One of the most vaunted weapons of the Penitent Knights, this mighty Thunder Hammer in the shape of a great fist smashes its targets asunder, like the fury of the Emperor. The current wielder of this hammer is the esteemed Lawbringer Captain, Vitalleus.
Plasma Combi-bolter "Protector"
The Penitent Knights, especially those of ranged expertise, venerate this holy boltgun that can be traced back to the Ebon Fists Chapter, who gave this as a sign of respect. The Knight who bear this weapon is Knight-Captain Carastain Baelant.
Armor[]
20 Suits of Mark IV Maximus Power Armor
5 Suits of Mark III Iron Power Armor
Forbidden Armory[]
Deep in the inner sanctums of Galadhor, in chambers known only to the Chaplaincy, Scholarship, and the Council of Lords, the Penitent Knights contain tragically tainted relics and items that their number have once used or come to contact with, to be locked away until a solution for their corruption can be undone.
The corrupted sword, Hollow Lament
Hollow Lament - Back to the dark shameful days of M33, when the Dark Eldar Kabal of Tainted Blood abducted and plundered from many worlds under the Penitent Knights' jurisdiction, the xenos also stole a once vaunted sword from a Chapter vault. And for six millennia the crime went unpunished until the Kabal reappeared in Imperial space and were attacked by the Order of the Dawn's fleet, then boarded. After killing the heartless aliens, the Knights found a few relics that once belonged to them, one being Hollow Lament. The once holy power sword had been twisted and tainted by the exposure to the agony and suffering inflicted upon the Dark Eldar's victims and to this day remains an uneasy and disconcerting presence to all near it.
Fleet[]
Brotherhood (Battle Barge)
Pict-capture of the revered Battle Barge, "Brotherhood"
The God-Slayer (Battle Barge)
Spear of Archalus (Battle Barge)
Pride of Alarac (Strike Cruiser)
Asterion’s Ram (Strike Cruiser)
Myrmidon (Strike Cruiser)
Last Hope (Strike Cruiser)
Charlemagne (Strike Cruiser)
15 Unnamed Frigates
Notable Penitent Knights[]
Currently Active[]
Lord Crusader Graythorne Crowslayer- The current Lord Crusader of the Penitent Knights Chapter, and the militaristic commander of the Asteria Sub-sector. Renowned for his mastery with the two-handed Relic Blade artifact of the Chapter, Avalon, and for daring heroics on the battlefield, Graythorne stands resolute in his ancient Chapter's beliefs of the value of civilian life, and to bring the retribution of the Emperor's wrath upon those that would oppose humanity. And for his exemplary leadership of his Chapter during the trying and hellish time of the Forty First and Second Millenniums, Graythorne has been heralded as the reincarnation of one of the Knights' oldest heroes, Asterion.
Lord Scholar Arath Graynerius - Possessed of nigh-immeasurable wisdom and mental fortitude, Arath Graynerius is the current master of the Penitent Knights' Librarius, a title that he honors to his utmost. Armored in a venerable suit of Mark IV "Maximus" Power Armor lovingly engraved with scenes of ancient victories and shames relevant to his Chapter, Arath embodies his two-fold calling: a keeper of the Chapter's history and enviable warrior on the battlefield. Arath is supremely gifted in manifesting his psykic wrath in the form of ethereal fire, but also in discerning the God-Emperor's commands for the Penitent Knights through omens and portents.
Paladin Captain Vitalleus Fortareis - A seasoned commander to the core, Vitalleus Fortareis is inheritor of his ancient namesake, the hero of the Night of Crows. Vitalleus projects an aura of such authority both on and off the battlefield that the Lord Crusader himself would not easily cast aside the Paladin's recommendations for a campaign. When he issues a command, it is joked that even the ground itself is moved and speeds those that tread upon it to fulfill Vitalleus' wish. An insight to Penitent Knight humor, but it displays how feared the current Paladin Captain is when bearing his Thunder Hammer down onto an enemy.
Knight-Captain Derrius Kveldor - It is stated by some that Derrius is the model of a Space Marine, if not a Penitent Knight. Pious, stoic, and utterly vindictive to the enemies of Mankind. Such for his piety that he was honored with the name of the Chapter's first Reclusiarch, Kveldor. Leading the Order of the Cleansing Flame, Derrius stands apart from his Knights, for the Captain's past is murky and precious few among the veteran brothers can recall serving with him as a Squire before he was a fighting xenos and heretics by the Cleansing Flame's name.
Knight-Captain Carastan Baelant
Lord Chaplain Marsidias Ashbringer
Lord Forgemaster Glungorias the Craftsman
Venerated Dreadnought Claudius the Enduring
Historic[]
Highlord Archalus
Lord Chaplain Kveldor, the first Lord Chaplain
Paladin-Captain Fortareis, hero of the Night
Lord Scholar Graynerius, the first Lord Scholar
Lord Admiral Baelant, the first Lord Admiral
Knight-Chaplain Gorladain the Returned
Knight-Captain Balder Karn
Justicar Vortihad
Forgemaster Galarch
Lord Crusader Asterion the Hero
Lord Crusader Galastram the Traitorbane
Chapter Keeps[]
Greenward Redoubt - Mining World Hilsdrad, Aegimius System
Caer Foross - Death World Brant, Aegimius System
Galadhor, Fortress Monastery - Lor'dra, Aegimius System
Chapter Relations[]
For their chivalric belief in the protection of the small people of the Imperium, the Penitent Knights have developed less than favorable relations with both the High Lords and the Inquisition, as well as any Astartes Chapters that treat common humans with clear disdain. Though, they have been known to fight alongside commonly mistrusted Chapters due to mutations in their gene-seed, leading some to question the purity of the Knights. However, Chapters that share their kind view of normal humans will find fast friends in the Knights.
Notable Quotes[]
By the Penitent Knights[]
"My armor is my shield, my flamer is my hate, my duty is my soul!"
—Mantra of the Cleansing Flame
"Sure and furious as the northwind, shudder before your death!"
—Mantra of the Winterbound
"Bow thy heads, Knights of the Emperor. For unbridled hell and vileness awaits us all. But despair not, for if we sons of Lor'dra are destined to die fighting this eldritch chasm in the galaxy, then we will die with blade and bolter in hand, and surrounded by the corpses of our foes. Valor burns away corruption!"
—Lord Chaplain Marsidias Ashbringer, on the Cicatrix Maledictum
"Look to me, guardsmen! Gaze upon a Knight of the Emperor, and know that His eyes are upon us! Make me proud to fight alongside you!"
—Knight-Exemplar Bruloas Moriam
"Hast thee pondered whom our father could be, brother? The Ultramarines now have their Primarch returned to them, whilst we do not even know whom ours is. And even if we knew the truth, would he even care for us, and what we have done? Perhaps not, but surely the Emperor would..."
—Knight-Brother Gorleon
"They cleanse the wicked. They cull the evil. Under my command, these specially trained Knights show no mercy unto the enemies of the Imperium. In the name of the Emperor, soothly, they shalt unleash their purifying flames against the fiends of the galaxy. The flames of Lor'dra speak, brothers. They speak through US."
—Knight-Captain Derrius Kveldor, on the Order of the Cleansing Flame
"The Crows are now dead, their traitorous and abominable souls sent screaming to their "Gods." While we, true servants of our Emperor, stand still, bloodied and battered. Honor and redemption are ours, brothers."
—Lord Crusader Graythorne Crowslayer
About the Penitent Knights[]
"To thee, O' divine warriors from the heavens, we are indebted for eternity. To thee, O' wrathful saviors from great metal birds, we shall forever exalt. To thee, O' knights from the stars, we shall pledge service to thee for the rest of our days. Take thy right, and we of Aelm shall be yours."
—Feudal human to the host of Penitent Knights during the aftermath of the Liberation of Lor'dra (062.M32)
"Trust me, we've explored all avenues open to us to find corruption within the ranks of that Chapter. From the Third Founding, yet deviant from the Codex Astartes, and their misplaced loyalty to commoners? You would think they would slip up, and we would find the skeleton in their closet, per se. Yet, we could nought but discover that a single man lacks an official Imperial record. That's nothing to go on. The only thing relating to the matter of corruption was millennia ago, and as some would say, redeemed. But, I will keep my eye on them. Those 'Penitent Knights,' have earned my attention."
—Unknown Inquisitor
"Thank the God-Emperor Himself that when vile Orks sought to to pillage and loot our Hive that His angels, the Penitent Knights, were nearby! I remember a few of them holding down a Hab-block while evacuating people to the inner parts of the Hive. They gladly took greenskin fire to save even a handful of us mortals. Bless the Knights, and bless the Emperor for not sending one of their cousins like... I believe the Malevolent Marines? Something along those lines."
—PDF Commander Steveus Sova
-Feel free to add your own-
Deathwatch Service[]
While the Penitent Knights are less than favored by the Inquisition, the Chapter's presence in their dangerous place in Segmentum Obscurus has amassed a long experience fighting the forces of Chaos and several xenos races. There have been Knights that have been called to the service of the Deathwatch, although their Chapter's morality can sometimes clash with other members of their Kill-Teams. However, there even have been some Lord Crusaders that have answered the call of the Inquisition, even Graythorne himself.
Suggestions[]
If you find a glaring issue with canon lore in anything I've written, or an idea to expand on the ol' Knights, feel free to drop me a message about it or leave a message on this article's talk page. Please, do the same if you feel interested in having the Penitent Knights interact with your own Chapter, for better or worse.
