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The Gilded Knights were a loyalist codex-compliant chapter forged from the lineage of the Iron Hands. They would fight honorably for the Imperium until M.39 when a traitor in their ranks, Urlaban, destroyed the chapter from within and turned the majority to Chaos.
Since this catastrophic event, the chapter has split into two factions: one being the loyal-but-reviled Ghast Knights and the other being the undeniably traitorous Leviathan Dogma. Attempts to identify the two factions as being descended from the same lineage have been made by the Ordo Hereticus, but results remain inconclusive.
Chapter History
The Gilded Knights were formed in the latter half of M.37 during the 23rd founding as a means of creating a larger Imperial presence in Segmentum Obscuris. As is the case of most chapters formed during this period, records involving their creation are hard to come by, with the only documents on file containing paragraph upon paragraph of redactions. From what can be ascertained, the chapter was formed from Iron Hands geneseed under the watchful eye of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
The exact reasoning behind this relationship remains unclear, but it was most beneficial to the Gilded Knights, as they were gifted high quality wargear and relics, one such being a Leviathan Dreadnought chassis. This excess of weaponry ensured that the Gilded Knights would be more than a match for whatever lurked in the galactic north. While this caused the Gilded Knights to revere the Mechanicus, they would still view the Emperor as their ultimate authority. The chapter would go on to win battle after battle in the Emperor's name. Like shining knights mounted on horseback, they would use bikes to swoop into enemy positions and cut down the enemies of man with their blaring chainswords.
The Gilded Knights grew to revere personal strength above all else; carried away, eventually, to a sinister and catastrophic fault. Later generations of Gilded Knights revered glory, personal achievement, and the attainment of strength by any means, usually utilizing technological augmentation to do so. Among these tendencies, hyper-aggression slowly began to manifest throughout the chapter. Eventually, the newer battle-brothers even began to look down on humans for their apparent weakness.
Although he found this development to be distasteful and selfish, Knight Regent: Atassian Invibus took measly few measures to counter this concerning trait among his warriors, aside from the occasional slap on the wrist for when a marine took his aggression too far. In fact, even when his veteran circle, The Coming Dawn, showed signs of this corruption, the honored warrior merely turned a blind eye. Although his peers pressured him, Atassian would never falter in his resolve. Urlaban, one of the chapter master’s most trusted friends, viewed Atassian’s restraint as a form of weakness. Few recognized the chapter’s drastic change in character for what it truly was until it was far too late.
Notable Campaigns
The Battle of Carakhsis 087 M.39
After a decisive battle between the Gilded Knights and the Iron Warriors, matters took a turn for the worse. The Gilded Knights were severely disciplined when their victory in the defence of a forgeworld came at the price of leaving civilians to perish at the traitors' hands. With the chapter being as proud as it was, this was taken as a severe blow, with many astartes choosing to blame the mortals rather than admitting their own failure. When it was determined that another forgeworld known as Carakhsis was targetted by the Iron Warriors, Invibus declared that the Gilded Knights would not be found wanting.
Atassian planned to reclaim the chapter's honor by putting a focus on the defences surrounding the hab-blocks. The Knight Regent placed squads of the 3rd and 4th companies around the manufactorums while he would lead the first and second companies in defence of the civilians. However, rather than facing stragglers like he anticpated, Atassian and his companies were met with the full measure of the Iron Warriors' invasion force.
Though they fought valiantly, the sheer number of traitors overwhelmed the knights, causing panic and mayhem to flood the streets. Despite, the odds, Atassian expected his elite companies to retain their composure and escort the mortals away from the fighting. He was appalled, however, when he saw his brothers, including those of his trusted veteran circle rampaging through the streets and killing innocents and traitors alike.
Unbeknownst to the Gilded Knights, the Iron Warriors had taken notice of the early stages of the chapter's corruption, specifically the bloodlust exhibited by Urlaban. Amidst the carnage, the Iron Warriors' Warsmith managed to single out Urlaban in order to make him an offer of fealty. In exchange for a steady tithe of geneseed, Urlaban and a number of his brothers would be permitted to join the Iron Warriors. Considering that his alternative was death, Urlaban accepted the offer. With that, the Iron Warriors feigned retreat, knowing that they would be able to return unopposed.
The Battle of Calrath 089 M.39
Over a period of two years, Urlaban subtly used his influence to garner followers within the chapter. Rather than declare allegiance to the Iron Warriors, as he not only resented them for his humiliating defeat, but also for their atrocities during the Dropsite Massacre, Urlaban told his followers that Atassian had lost sight of the Emperor's vision by coddling the weak. Instead, he claimed that the weak must be purged in order to make the Imperium stronger. Urlaban likened himself and his followers to the Sorilian Leviathans of old, who brought out the strength in their species by consuming the weak. This only added to the perverse pride that was already festering in his followers.
These Machiavellian teachings struck a chord with an alarming number of the Gilded Knights. While they were mainly those who were relatively new to the chapter, a surprising addition was Talobas, the Master of the Forge. Talobas did everything in his power to validate Urlaban's teachings and position which led Urlaban to confide many secrets with him, including his deal with the Iron Warriors. Knowing that these older cousins were not to be trusted, Talobas cautioned Urlaban that they would readily kill him and his cohorts for their geneseed. He claimed that the only assurance they would have was making themselves indispensable. Talobas claimed to know an ancient method of making warriors nearly indestructible, but it would require two members to initiate the process. Urlaban readily agreed and waited for the opportunity to present itself.
As if by some dark design, the opportunity came 8 months later when an Ork Waaagh! had found its way to Calrath, a frozen planet within the Gilded Knights' territory. As expected, Atassian answered the call for aid without hesitation. Urlaban instructed his followers to mark the white sections of their armor with a yellow serpent to better identify themselves during the battle. Atassian ordered that the 8th company and the scout company remain on Sorilia to help Talobas protect the Reclusiam and wargear vaults. Meanwhile, the 1st through 7th and 9th companies would be deployed to Calrath.
By the time they had arrived, the Waaagh! had already made planetfall and was beginning to breach the walls of the main hive city. The 6th, 7th, and 9th company strike cruisers remained in orbit to combat the Ork's ships while the remaining companies deployed to the battlefield via the steel rain maneuver, with Atassian and the 1st company landing directly into the city. Just as the greenskins breached the outer wall, 400 astartes surrounded them with drop pods and deep striking tanks, using their firepower to corral them into the lethal combination of the 1st company veterans and the planetary guard. However, the Orks were not to be broken so easily.
Warboss 'EdSmaasha
Rather than remaining in orbit like Atassian anticipated, the Warboss, a garishly outfitted brute called 'EdSmaasha, had decided to lead the attack personally. He plowed through guardsman and astartes alike before being halted by Atassian. The two viciously traded blows for hours until the wounded Knight Regent severed the beast's powerklaw followed shortly by his head. Soon after, the remaining Orks attempted to flee, with only a minority surviving long enough to vanish into the planet's frozen wastes. Before a victory could be declared, however, Urlaban strode towards Atassian, who was on the verge of collapse, and impaled him with his lightning claw.
Urlaban looked to the shocked loyalists and his devoted before decrying Atassian and his leadership. Rather than convincing the remaining loyalists to join him, his actions caused the opposite. Thosis, a Sternguard Veteran, fired his plasma pistol at his chest, sparking the traitors to fire on him and the others who refused to accept Urlaban's rule. However, the battle with the Orks was especially violent, so much so that every astartes was covered from helm to boot in a viscous coat of gore, thus obstructing any form of identifying markers. As a result, the divided brothers fired upon one another indiscriminately. It took the effort of both Thosis and then Reclusiarch Gilliam to bring Urlaban down, before the traitor revealed his wildcard.
The Freeblade, Dreadmaul
Beaten and bloodied, Urlaban enacted the ritual as Talobas had instructed him, while the techmarine did the same on Sorilia. As a result, those bearing the mark of the ochre serpent, both live and dead, were engulfed in searing warpfire and transmogrified into a combination of astartes and molten metal. Now reinvigorated by the might of the warp, the traitor forces slaughtered most of the loyalists before a Freeblade known as Dreadmaul landed after answering the distress call from the previous engagement. With the tides turned, Urlaban withdrew his forces, commandeered the chapter's command ship, the Vindex, and made all haste to Sorilia with the remaining loyalists and an Imperial Knight on his tail.
The Purge of Sorilia 089 M.39
What would become known as the Purge of Sorilia began shortly after the Battle of Calrath when Urlaban and Talobas enacted the ritual of transformation. The results were much the same as they were on Calrath, with the exception being Talobas. Due to being a Techmarine, he possessed more bionics than his brothers, namely his servo-arms and mecha-tendrils. Because these devices were hard-wired into his brain, the transformation proved to be extremely painful and scarring to Talobas, so much so that it impaired his judgement greatly. Meanwhile, the loyalists stationed on the planet, who had received no word of the treachery on Calrath, were shocked as their brothers suddenly transformed into burning machine-monsters and began firing on them.
Recognizing the work of the Warp, Pharol, chaplain of the 8th company, rallied whatever loyalists were left of his and the scout company and attempted to fortify the vaults. However, they were greatly outnumbered, and the traitors seemed to regenerate from all but the most extensive damage. In an act of desperation, Pharol donned the sacred wargear of past chaplains and awoke Mortag, a bitter Leviathan Dreadnought as old as the chapter itself. After a great deal of shouting, Pharol managed to convince the adamantine hulk to aid the loyalists in battle, where it tore traitors to ribbons and reduced whatever remained out of reach to molten slag.
Regardless, the traitors' numbers proved to be too much for the loyalists, leading to much of the wargear being stolen or destroyed during the conflict. After several hours of fighting, Talobas was alerted to Urlaban's arrival to the system. Rather than coming to the logical conclusion of preparing the cargo for transport, the normally level-headed Talobas demanded that his troops retrieve more spoils from the vaults. Distracted by the allure of treasure, the traitorous techmarine failed to notice that loyalist reinforcements had arrived until he heard the thunderous footsteps of an Imperial Knight.
In a panic, Talobas pulled his warriors back and loaded whatever they could onto Thunderhawks before Dreadmaul had them within range of its Gatling Cannon. The Knight was quick, however, and struck down two Thunderhawks with a barrage of missiles. Talobas and the remaining flyers focused their Turbolasers on Dreadmaul, cracking its shield and blasting the right shoulder plate into pieces before screaming into orbit. As the loyalists purged the remaining traitors and collected what remained of the wargear, Urlaban and his retinue weighed their options.
The tyrant wanted nothing more than to exterminate those who refused his vision, but a drawn out war would attract unwanted attention. However, upon rejoining his heretic brood, Talobas made the choice for him. Still hysterical from the daemonic bonding of bionics to what remained of his unaltered flesh and barely escaping Dreadmaul's wrath, the warpsmith stormed his way into the battle barge's magazine and ordered the Vindex to open fire on the Capitol city. Before Urlaban could question the attack, the rest of his stolen fleet began firing on the remaining cities, thus drowning any hopes of future geneseed raids in radioactive fire. Having lost control of the situation, Urlaban ordered a full retreat while the loyalists on the surface performed a mad scramble to evacuate and pursue them.
Chapter Homeworld
Pre Exterminatus
During the chapter's founding, Sorilia, located in the Ixaniad Sector, was chosen to be the Gilded Knights' homeworld due to its strategic location in Segmentum Obscuris. Sorilia was a massive desert planet pocked with hive cities crafted from alabaster stone. These cities were built atop subterranean reservoirs, as the planet did not possess any major bodies of water on its surface.
Though the Gilded Knights did not involve themselves very heavily in Sorilia's politics, the Knight Regent and the Coming Dawn were often consulted on matters deemed to be of great enough importance. For example, if a law were to affect housing or the quality of life of Sorilian citizens it could also affect the quality of the chapter's future recruits. The Gilded Knights also housed its caches of wargear and geneseed in vaults beneath the various cities, giving them more concern than most regarding their well-being.
The planet also served as ideal training grounds for the astartes, as the vast deserts provided a cushion to prevent potential collateral damage. These places were also home to the planet's infamously dangerous fauna. While the planet possessed many fearsome creatures, there was one that towered over the rest. The Sorilian Leviathan was the largest species to be documented in the planet's history. These serpentine reptiles grew to monstrous sizes with the largest specimen ever discovered measuring approximately 115 meters. They also proved to be formidable adversaries for the astartes as they were clad from head to tail in thick, interlocking plates and could belch highly corrosive acid that they used for tunneling.
The beasts were extremely aggressive, as their size required an equally large caloric intake. Due to the fact that the only creatures large enough to sate their hunger were others of their species, they were also cannibalistic. This made for a highly competitive environment and served to prepare the Gilded Knights for surprise attacks and anti-armor assaults as the leviathans were often attracted to the vibrations made by the chapter's movements.
Post-Exterminatus
During the final moments of the Battle of Sorilia, the renegade Talobas ordered that the traitors bombard Sorilia's capitol to prevent the loyalists from pursuing them. This inadvertently detonated explosives stored in the vaults beneath the city which, in turn, poisoned the subterranean water system that the other cities relied on. As a result, the Sorilian people were forced to venture out into the desert in search of water. Over time, the culture devolved into nomadic tribes.
However, as the exploits of the mysterious Ghast Knights became known to the Inquisition, an investigation was made into the chapter's suspicious obsession with the Gilded Knights' territory. They had received the report that Ghast Knights were present at the fall of Sorilia and were concerned to find that there was no chapter registered under that name before that point. Soon, the idea that the Ghast Knights were actually the Gilded Knights with a new coat of paint began to circulate within the order.
In an effort to find evidence for the theory, agents were sent to document the Ghast Knights' habits in the sector. The observations revealed that the Ghast Knights frequently brought supplies to the tribes on Sorilia in exchange for recruits and that their patrol patterns matched those of the Gilded Knights perfectly. Additionally, they had made themselves quite at home in Martin's Rest, the Gilded Knights' former fortress monastery. With their suspicions all but confirmed, the Inquisition had a decision to make. They could leave the Ghast Knights alone to continue their protection of the sector or they could declare them traitors. After all, these loyalists were the minority among their brothers who had chosen the path of heresy.
However, the decision was made for them when an Inquisitorial ship strayed too close to a Ghast Knight patrol during an observation session. When the ship refused to identify itself, the Ghast Knights fired a volley of warning shots that, rather unluckily, struck the ship's warp engine, annihilating it instantly. In response, the Inquisition deemed the Ghast Knights Excommunicate Traitoris. Having determined that what remained of Sorilia's populace was most likely corrupted by the Ghast Knights' supposedly heretical influence, the Ordo Hereticus performed an orbital bombardment on Sorilia which ended with an exterminatus.
Sorilia remains a shell of its former self, its sandy deserts having been turned to a sea of smoke-colored glass from the immense heat. Ashen clouds prevent light from reaching the surface, keeping temperatures barely above freezing. No life persists on Sorilia, save the occasional visits from the Ghast Knights who pay their respects and leave memorials in reverence to the innocents lost in the Inquisition's retaliation.
Fortress-Monastery
The Gilded Knights built their fortress monastery at the height of the Cartsevain Mountains as this place bore cultural significance to the Sorilian people. The highest peak was once home to the largest specimen of Sorilian Leviathan ever discovered and, as such, was honeycombed with miles of tunnels. The reason for the location's significance lies in the legend of a fabled hero who met his end by killing the beast at the peak of the mountain range. The Gilded Knights would build their fortress monastery at the height of this peak and utilize the tunnels for further expansion. This fortress was named Martin's Rest after the hero of legend.
Rituals
The process of joining the chapter was much the same as they are for most chapters. There was a rigorous selection and training process before individuals could join the scout company. However, in order to be considered worthy of donning the sacred armor and livery of the Gilded Knights, aspirants were expected to prove themselves in tests of physical strength and resolve.
After being given geneseed, the initiates were sent out into the desert to hunt down a juvenile Sorilian Leviathan, as such beasts were seen as worthy challenges for a space marine. They were to survive Sorilia's arid climate only with whatever food and water they found on their journey and were only permitted to return wearing the scales of their quarry. It should be noted that a Sorilian Leviathan is considered to be a juvenile at a minimum of 20 meters long and that they are the primary prey of older members of the species who are able to detect their scent from 10 kilometers away. This made the voyage back to the fortress monastery just as, if not more dangerous than the hunt itself, as the initiate would be targeted by these much more lethal adults.
A similar ritual was performed for the ascension to Knight Regent. If the previous chapter master was slain in battle, a successor was chosen by the Coming Dawn and Sorilia's ruling council. This aspirant would be sent out to kill an adult Sorilian Leviathan measuring no less than 90 meters. The chosen astartes was permitted to wear his wargear, but only the bare essentials. This included a sword (as a combat knife was not long enough to pierce the creature's hide), a shield to protect the aspirant from acidic discharge, and a bolt pistol to weaken the skin for piercing. There have also been accounts of at least one previous Knight Regent who used a krak grenade, but this may have been attributed to embelishment. If a battle brother wished to replace the current Knight Regent in an honor duel, he was first required to perform the previously mentioned hunt. This ensured that the individual in question was worthy of meeting his adversary in combat.
Chapter Beliefs
The Gilded Knights were known to carry a chapter-wide air of arrogance that often prevented them from forming lasting alliances. This is not to say that they had nothing to be proud of. After all, even without the mastercrafted wargear from the Mechanicus, they were still astartes; and especially lethal ones at that. However, these boons alone were not grounds enough to warrant such disregard for others.
Every battle brother was expected to reach the peak of their physical strength which led to heavy competition. It was not uncommon for all-out brawls to occur among the lower ranks when a marine received a slight against their honor, perceived or imaginary.
The chapter also seemed to possess a strange form of body dismorphia. In the event an astartes lost a battle or was in some way dishonored, they would amputate whatever parts that they attributed to their failure and replace it with a bionic analog. This unhealthy habit was also encouraged by the Gilded Knights' relationship with the Mechanicus, since they not only provided ample supplies for the procedures but openly encouraged the behavior.
Downfall
Though their haughtiness no-doubt stemmed from their advantageous position with the Mechanicus, its deepest roots lay in the chapter's initiation rites. While the chapter was young, joining the Gilded Knights was no simple feat, as killing a Sorilian Leviathan usually left many an initiate dead. This made the mere position of battle brother a high achievement worthy of pride. However, as tales of the Gilded Knights grew, more wished to join them and test their mettle. As centuries turned to millenia, the Sorilian Leviathans died out, leaving the chapter to settle with lesser creatures to fill the void.
As more recruits were taken, the chapter's pride meant less and less. The younger battle brothers had no memory of the halcion days of old and believed that their false sense of worth was comparable to the deeds performed by the Gilded Knights' honored heroes. To them, the difficulty was over and they had nothing left but to reap the benefits of standing among one of the most esteemed chapters in the segmentum. Because their initiation was so simple, they found it easier to look down on those who had not thought to try.
Chapter Gene-Seed
The geneseed of the Gilded Knights was derived from the Iron Hands with no recorded alterations. It is unknown whether the rampant aggression that later revealed itself was due to an undiscovered defect or chaotic corruption. The only preternatural property present in the geneseed was the standard trait of most Iron Hands successors. This being the ability to undergo extensive bionic alterations with a nearly nonexistent rate of rejection.
Chapter Organisation
Ranks
The ranking system of the Gilded Knights matched the specifications of the Codex Astartes with the only exception being the title of chapter master being changed to Knight Regent. In addition to overseeing the chapter, the duties of the Knight Regent also involved maintaining healthy relations with the Sorilian populace, especially after the Gilded Knights' change in demeanor.
Chapter Combat Doctrine
Though the chapter was descended from the Iron Hands, their habits were more in line with the Dark Angels in that they acted more like galant knights than battle hardened machines. The Gilded Knights placed a heavy emphasis on fighting on the front lines, usually relying on armored transports to get them there. However, the chapter's favored method of warfare was weilding melee weapons (preferably chainswords) atop bikes. These brazen attacks were always paired with covering fire provided by artillery and devastator squads.
Notable Space Marines
Loyalists
Rembrancer's Depiction of Atassian Invibus Prior to His Fall
- Knight Regent: Atassian Invibus: Atassian was the noble Chapter Master of the Gilded Knights prior to the Battle of Calrath. Before he was killed by Urlaban during the treachery, Atassian was renowned as a fine swordsman and hero to the people of the Gilded Knights' territories. Current chapter champions of the Ghast Knights wear parts of his armor and wield his wargear in honor of his deeds.
- Gilliam: Gilliam is the former Reclusiarch of the Gilded Knights. After being severely wounded in his fight with Urlaban, the chaplain saw it fit to pass on his position to Pharol, the chaplain of the 8th company. He is currently interred within a Venerable Dreadnought and is only awoken during the Ceremony of Rekindling or in the most dire of battles.
- Thosis Terion: Before the fall of the Gilded Knights, Thosis was the highest ranking Sternguard Veteran Sergeant in the chapter. As a neophyte, Thosis idolized Urlaban for his raw strength and skill like most of his kin. However, as he ascended through the ranks of the chapter, he grew to respect the noble humility that characterized Atassian's actions. It is for this reason that Thosis was the first to retaliate against Urlaban during his treachery and why he was nominated to lead the Ghast Knights as their 1st Marshal.
- Pharol: Pharol was the chaplain of the 8th company during the Battle of Sorilia. He was responsible for fending the traitors off of the Gilded Knights' Wargear Vaults. Though he fought valiantly, most of the wargear was either destroyed or stolen by Talobas and the traitors. After the battle, Gilliam gifted the chaplain his wargear and his position as Reclusiarch. He currently serves as the Reclusiarch of the Ghast Knights and protects the chapter's Reclusiam on Ghroth.
- Mortag: Mortag is a Leviathan Dreadnought that was awakened by Pharol to aid in the Battle of Sorilia. He is ancient, as he was interred within his chassis in the Gilded Knights' infancy. His age paired with the mysterious technologies used in creating the chassis has made Mortag irascible and crotchety at best and a discordant madman at worst. Because of this, he is rarely seen on the field of battle, but he has been described as a frenzied blur of adamantium death paired with vicous spouts of promethium. He currently sleeps in the Ghast Knights' Reclusiam and has yet to be awakened since his involvement at the Battle of Sorilia.
Traitors
Urlaban Post Transformation
- Urlaban: Before his fall to chaos, Urlaban was a revered veteran of the first company. His prowess and charismatic nature earned him many prizes, such as his iconic Cataphractii Terminator armor as well as the adoration of much of the chapter. However, much like the newer initiates, he began to experience violent urges that led to his eventual corruption at the hands of the Iron Warriors. He would use his influence and position to garner followers to aid in his plot. After his rebellion at Calrath and the subsequent battle at Sorilia, Urlaban took his followers and spoils into the Warp where he was gifted the Hellforge of Nechilia as a base of operations. He is currently looking for ways to free his brothers from the servitude of the Iron Warriors, but it is a losing battle.
- Talobas: Though the Gilded Knights' fall from grace is attributed to Urlaban, Talobas may have been one of the driving forces behind his corruption and is the reason for the Leviathan Dogma's continued existence. In fact, the Master of the Forge had been a servant of the Ruinous Powers long before the Gilded Knights began changing for the worse. Centuries prior, Talobas, a latent psyker, had come across a tome while wandering the deserts of Sorilia during his initiation. The nature of the tomes and the knowledge they held are known only to Talobas, as he destroyed them after learning their secrets. However, it can be gathered that they are related to his prolonged youth, the change in the Gilded Knights' demeanor, and the Leviathan Dogma's mass transformation. Talobas currently serves as the warband's Lord Discordant and Second-in-Command.
- Baltarus Dyrolath: Baltarus Dyrolath was the Gilded Knight's Chapter Champion before his corruption, though the position was gifted not due to any sort of loyalty to the chapter, but his prowess. Baltarus possesses a devotion to Urlaban that borders on psychosis, an obsession that has led him to perform many gruesome deeds in the name of getting closer to his idol. Much like his forebears, the Iron Hands, he sought to perfect himself with bionics rather than doing so through disciplining his body or focusing on his spirit. However, he did not attempt to purge his emotions, as he believed that they aided him in combat. After attaining the title of Champion, Baltarus spent his time under Urlaban's tutelage, feeding his already growing dark nature. When Urlaban revealed his plan to ursurp Atassian, the Chapter Champion was the first to pledge his loyalty. Baltarus currently serves as the Leviathan Dogma's Master of Executions.
Chapter Relics
The Hallowed Heart: The power saber used by Atassian Invibus, former chapter master of the Gilded Knights. Its shape resembles a scimitar and it glows with a purple energy. It is currently utilized by the Ghast Knights' chapter champion, Kanrus, and is passed on to each successor, called "Bearers of the Heart".
The Helm of Absolution: A helmet that greatly amplifies the user's voice by being paired with its sister relic, The Mantle of Vengeance. It resembles the Ghast Knights' chapter symbol and is currently worn by Reclusiarch Pharol.
The Mantle of Vengeance: An array of amplification apparatus attached to a set of mk. 7 astartes power armor. Currently used by Reclusiarch Pharol.
Perdition: A crozius arcanum that is passed from one reclusiarch to the next as a symbol of status. Four folded wings make up the head with skulls in between each one. Spikes protrude from each of the four mouths. Not indicative of its size, the crozius hits as hard as a thunder hammer and electrifies everything it strikes.
Chapter Fleet
As was with the rest of the chapter's fortune, the Gilded Knights were gifted a massive fleet of high quality ships by the Mechanicus. Their reasoning was that the chapter required such a fleet to better patrol Segmentum Obscuris and to quash any appearances of vile xenos. As could be expected, such a broad and generic explanation did not sit well with other Imperial organizations. Many within the Inquisition suspected that the Mechanicus were attempting to groom a space marine chapter into being loyal to them first and the Imperium second, just as they had done with the Steel Confessors, but no official charges were ever levied.
Regardless of stigma, the Gilded Knights used this fleet to terrific effect in defense of the Segmentum. Their patrols were aggressive and near-constant, and often extended outside their territory. These excursions led to many encounters with foes and allies alike, and earned their relentless but haughty reputation. Most of the fleet was stolen by the Leviathan Dogma after the Battle of Calrath.
Chapter Appearance
The Gilded Knights were famous for the high-quality wargear they would wear and utilize in battle. Captains and those in the 1st and 2nd companies wore baroque armor patterns with the 1st company wearing golden helmets. Even those who possessed relatively unadorned armor were polished and cleaned regularly as all were expected to uphold the pride of the chapter. This practice became even more important as the chapter's violence became more overt and their pristine white armor would inevitably become sullied with blood, scratches, and scorches.
The Gilded Knights denoted squad via equally ornate markings on their right pauldrons. While the general outline of the symbols were the same as those described in the codex astartes, they were embroidered with spiked and swirling patterns with their squad numbers in the center of the symbol.
Chapter Colors
Though they became infamous for their clean, white armor, the chapter did not always wear these colors. In the early years of the chapter, the Gilded Knights' color scheme was very similar to the Iron Hands, minus a few characteristics. However, after the discovery of a Sorilian legend detailing a warrior who wore shining white and gold armor, the chapter decided to mimic his appearance and become a symbol to the people of Sorilia.
Left: Tactical Marine
Right: Tactical Sergeant
Left: Assault Sergeant
Right: Devastator Sergeant
Left: Veteran Marine
Right: Veteran Sergeant
The reasoning behind the color of helmets, backpacks, and boots were more attributed to symbolism. The polished iron color on these parts was not only meant to remind the Gilded Knights of their forebears, but also to serve as a testament to the chapter's unyielding nature. The coloring of the helmet symbolized resolve, the boots reflected their refusal back down, and the powerpack, which was seen as the heart of the astartes, represented courage.
Colors were also used to denote squad type among sergeants as well as rank. A sergeant's squad designation was not only signified by the marking on his pauldron, but by a stripe along the top of the helmet. Gold denoted the individual as being sergeant of a tactical squad, while red was reserved for assault, and yellow was worn by fire support. Lastly, veterans are identified by gold helmets, with the sergeants possessing a white stripe along the top.
Chapter Badge
Symbol of the Gilded Knights
The chapter symbol of the Gilded Knights was based on the legend of a Sorilian Warrior dating back to the Age of Strife. According to multiple texts found across the planet, the individual was named "Martin the Hero" and was responsible for liberating Sorilia from alien opressors. The most notable aspect about this indivdual is that he was depicted as wearing an unknown pattern of white-colored power armor and brandishing a large scimitar. He would go on to unite the people of Sorilia before disappearing during a fight with a massive specimen of Sorilian Leviathan. The veracity of this legend was called into question over the following centuries until a helmet bearing a resemblace to depictions shown in the books was found outside of a massive tunnel at the top of the highest peak of the Cartsevain Mountains. Further investigation revealed a sword that was found next to the skeleton of the previously mentioned Sorilian Leviathan. This power sword would later be dubbed "The Hallowed Heart".
Notable Quotes
By the Gilded Knights
- "May these blows bring sense to your mind before I scatter it to the wind, heretic."
- — Former Reclusiarch Gilliam confronting Urlaban at the Battle of Calrath.
- "Guide them, Pharol. Keep our brothers on the path of righteousness, lest this victory be in vain."
- — The wounded Gilliam bequeathing "Perdition" to Pharol after the Battle of Sorilia.
About the Gilded Knights
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