Gold Templars

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Gold Templars
Gold Templars insignia, the Rising Sun of the Emperor, as seen on chapter Librarians and some command personnel.
A Gold Templars Lieutenant of the 4th Company, Command Squad.
Space Marine Chapter
Allegiance	Imperium of Man (Fedelitas Totalis)
Founding	25th 'Bastion' Founding
Successor of	Blood Angels (Sanguinius)
Chapter Master	Arch-Templar Malvé
Homeworld	Incendir III
Fortress-Monastery	Lux Bastille
Allies	Adeptus Mechanicus, Astra Militarum
Number of Marines	Unknown, rumored to violate 1000 Astartes guideline of the Codex Astartes. Under Investigation
Specialty	Mechanical maintenance, unit cohesion
Battle cry	None
Colours	Gold, Black, Silver, and Red
Successor Chapter(s)	None

"Our blood is of Baal, spilt for the Angel. Our spirit is of The Emperor, set forth for his domain. Our bolters are blessed, loaded for our foes!"

—mantra of the Gold Templars

The Gold Templars are a Loyalist Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels, born during the 25^th 'Bastion' Founding. The young nature of the chapter results in a great many distinctions from their progenitors, but their chapter composition and heraldry harkens back to some of the most iconic foundations of Blood Angels tradition. The Gold Templars exist to bolster and preserve Imperial space at its fringes where possible, and are often deployed in systems that are deemed too critical to lose after they have been claimed, which allows the forces that initially conquered the system to move forward more rapidly. Generally this will follow the crusades of other chapters, most notably the Black Templars, in order to retain Imperial control.

The most unique aspect of the chapter to onlookers is the lack of the chapter's armorial on the shoulder of their power armor. In addition to that, the character of the chapter differs greatly from their progenators in a few key ways, such as a different expression in their genetic flaws, and a less wrathful bearing in combat. The technical knowledge of the Gold Templars is somewhat more sophisticated than typical Astartes chapters, because their forces are required to operate far from support, and therefore are trained to repair field equipment, vehicles, and other important assets by Adeptus Mechanicus allies, facilitated by the substantial AdMech presence on their home planet.

The chapter also operates alongside the Incendir Auxilia, utilizing Astra Militarum forces in their planetary defense force. The chapter is not often involved in large conflicts, as their forces operate in an extremely spread out manner and amass most often for the purposes of wide redeployment. This is also an innate protection against the threat of over-aggregated military power, as the consolidation of Imperial Guard with an Astartes chapter carries great risks.

Chapter History

Though members the Gold Templars individually have comprehensive personal records, the chapter as a whole is not present in many critical events of the Imperium's wider history, and their worth on a galactic scale is unproven in the eyes of their peers. However, the Gold Templars hold close the prestige of their venerable Blood Angels heritage, seeing it as their duty to preserve the pristine image of their father chapter. This results in a fresh and eager force to be reckoned with.

Prior to the official formation of the chapter, the core founding members of the Gold Templars began developing their bonds of brotherhood in combat. The ranks of the Blood Angels were host to the noble heroes that would come to define this new arm of the Imperium. Service in their father chapter, military campaigns, and countless conflicts culminated in the ideal ingredients for the founding of a new chapter, not the least of which being a battle for the chapter's eventual home planet.

The Homeworld War (845.M40)

Before the time of The Homeworld War, the Incendir system was a center for commerce for nearby systems, and Incendir III featured massive bustling cities of industry. This major success resulted in constant scrutiny, thus the government's leading members were assessed by inquisitors regularly. Due to this fastidiousness, a screening revealed that the planet's government was corrupted by a Tyranid genestealer cult. The local planetary defense forces were immediately tasked with enforcing martial law by the Ordo Xenos, but it was not to last, as the unveiled genestealers rose up en masse in a desperate attempt to retain power. Astropathic communication and void transit were cut off entirely to prevent pandemonium on the neighboring Incendir II and IV, and also to prevent potential signaling to genestealer outposts that it was time to seize power, if such outposts had existed. A carefully hidden distress call was broadcast beyond the system's boundaries to summon aid.

The genestealers were not alone, however. A miniscule following of Khorne was nestled in the dark alleys of major cities, and the enforcement of martial law in addition to the sudden threat of mutated xenos horrors gave the Khornate cult perfect fodder to preach of the warring ways of their dark god. Citizens who feared both their government and their neighbors fell victim to the ruinous teachings. Gangs of cultists stormed ministorum buildings and hospitals, and in the following bloodshed, enacted a ritual that disgorged daemons onto the planet's surface. The genestealers stood no chance, and the loyalist soldiers were forced into defensive positions across the planet.

Nearby forces received the alert of the genestealer threat in the Incendir system, and the closest were a contingent of both Cadian shock troops and a handful of Blood Angels squads, led by Enoch, a chapter Librarian. These forces combined onboard the imperial cruiser Quintessence of Victory and departed for the Incendir system. The Blood Angels frigate Wing of Baal followed to provide orbital support.

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of the Golden Templars barren home world of Incendir III, ravaged by daemonic incursion.

Upon arrival, the Blood Angels immediately realized that the situation was far more dire than the anticipated genestealer uprising. The Wing of Baal was immediately sent to gather reinforcements, and the Quintessence was faced with no other choice but to deploy forces to the planet's surface before the threat took to the void and spread. Within the first two days, the majority of the Astra Militarum forces were wiped out, as well as half of the Blood Angels. Enoch was mortally wounded, and an incident with additional archeotech inside the fort left his body destroyed, and the guardsman Lieutenant Dorian disfigured. Indrovar, a sergeant in a Vanguard Veteran squad, assumed the role of commander until reinforcements arrived, and was able to protect the last standing loyalist structure on Incendir III, Bluestone Fort.

Eventually the Bluestone Fort was the lone bastion of defense, managing to withstand constant assault. The site was home to reclaimed archeotech from the 31^st millenium, scavenged from the system after it was recolonized. Of this assortment, an ancient void shield generator had been incorporated into the building's structure. Squads that survived initial contact were able to reconvene at the fort and held off waves of oncoming cultists and Bloodlettters. The Quintessence had been shot down not long after the battle started, which raged for twenty solar days before reinforcements arrived. When the Wing of Baal returned, the survivors pushed back against the tide from the outpost. The remaining Blood Angels were rewarded greatly for their bravery, and Indrovar was promoted to the first company. Dorian was quietly taken into the care of the Blood Angels for his disfigurement. As the fields of battle fell silent, the system was saved, but the marines left behind a mere death world, with no chance of recovering to the flourishing height of technology and economy it used to be, the inhabitants of the system reeling with the loss.

Founding (889.M40)

During the latter half of the 40^th Millennium, chapters were formed to guard regions of space that were spread out from terra and needed the ability to operate on reduced resources, and thus the 25^th founding was carried out. Backwater planets faced increased risk of incursion in all directions, which produced a greater threat than ever to the expansive goals of the Imperium. Dorian, now a Blood Angels psyker, was a survivor of the Homeworld War, and was known to be somewhat of a specialist in far-flung battles with no supply line, continuing his service to the Blood Angels in such a manner. He and a select group of cohorts were assembled into what was known as the Conclave, with Indrovar as the Chapter Master, and the chapter was subsequently christened. Their fortress monastery was constructed on the planet of Incendir III, which was at the time being converted into a forge world following the destruction of its populace. This resulted in the distinct integration of Mechanicus methodology in the chapter's training, and an overall close trust.

Almost all other members of the Conclave were selected based on connections to Dorian and Indrovar. Indrovar personally selected Jormungandr because he was integral in teaching Dorian, and thus would carry out the teaching of this new chapter effectively. Tervos relished the chances to tinker with the Imperium's technology for use by Indrovar and Dorian, and additionally would likely have been rather bored by their absence.

By the time of their arrival in the Incendir system, the status of society on Incendir II and IV had fallen significantly. Without Incendir III, the hub of commerce was altered drastically. The Templars began bolstering the PDF of both planets, and as the chapter improved in efficiency and resources, the forces were developed into a sophisticated regiment and organized by a hand picked supervisory staff by Dorian himself. In order to prevent inordinate amassing of power under Astartes leadership, control of the guard regiment and its resources is overseen by the Karian bloodline, which produces the finest of Commissars.

Battle brothers from a few Blood Angels companies formed the initial ranks of the Gold Templars, and the chapter was then slowly fleshed out with new recruits and equipment. The battle barges afforded to them were the newly constructed Key of Sanguinius, and later the reclaimed Voidtooth, made possible by the wealth of Incendir III's resources. The forge world also churned out weapons and armor quickly, its size lending great assistance to manufacturing.

The Era Indomitus (999.M41-present)

"The rising sun has never shone so brightly over the horizon as it does this day!"

—Arch-Templar Malvé

The return of the battle barges from the Battle of Baal to the Incendir system brought news of the Primach Roboute Guilliman's revival, which sent waves through the chapter. The warriors of the Gold Templars saw their primary duty as one of preservation, but the new possibilities of expansion and reclamation were seen as cause for celebration. For the first time since the chapter's founding, the first, second, and third companies reunited in their entirety on Incendir III for a glorious ceremony to welcome the vast reinforcements of new Primaris marines into the chapter. Many saw this as the unlocking of the path for humanity's goals to be realized in their entirety.

Of the key members of the chapter, many have successfully crossed the Rubicon Primaris; Sergeant Lumbassa, Champion Swift, and Dorian have each reaped the benefits of the improved biology.

Notable Campaigns

• The 12^th black crusade (143-160.M41) - Otherwise known as The Gothic War due to having predominantly taken place in the Gothic Sector, this battle featured heavy involvement from all forces based in the sector. As a result of warp storms isolating the Gothic Sector for the first several years of the war, reinforcements and communications were an impossibility. Thus, the forces available on Incendir III were forced to fight in an entirely defensive capacity to stop the forces of Chaos from destroying the Gold Templars' home system. The original Chapter Master of the Templars gave his life near the end of this conflict.

• The Battle of Baal (999.M41) - When Chapter Master Dante called for the successors of the Blood Angels to defend their home planet of Baal, a pang of guilt was felt among the Templars. Their chapter's ancestral homeland was to be under siege, but they could not join their brothers in battle. To condense their forces would take far too long and leave far too many worlds vulnerable. Instead, the Gold Templars organized a select squad of chapter veterans and donated both of their battle barges to the cause, assisting in the transport of any successor chapters to Baal. The battle in orbit resulted in the Voidtooth being heavily damaged, as well as all of the veterans perishing defending the astropathic relay on Baal Secundus.

Chapter Home World

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of the Gold Templars chapter home planet, Incendir III.

The home planet of the Gold Templars is Incendir III, previously an inter-system hub for commerce and industry. Some time during M37, the planet was discovered by an Imperial fleet after a long-lasting warp storm had subsided, exposing a human society that had regressed to a pre-industrial feudal state. After establishing an imperial outpost, the planet was left to develop with relative freedom. The inhabitants expanded to their neighboring planets in the system to populate further, establishing Incendir II and IV as new colonies.

Following the Homeworld War, when the world was razed by Skullsworn invaders, the surface and atmosphere of the planet were devastated. Scorched as it was, the tumultuous burning fields cooled over time, forming a barely hospitable death world. The planet's industries couldn't recover, save for the mining operations that existed, due to being rich with rare minerals. This was seen as the only suitable use for the planet after its destruction, and therefore it was converted to an industrial world. Centuries later, when the Gold Templars arrived to establish their homeworld, the now forge world of Incendir III was shaped into the center of their operations and resources.

The Templars predominantly draw neophytes from Incendir II and Incendir IV, as their populations were not tainted by the devastation of chaos. The partially reconstructed cityscapes and magma caves have served as both fortifications for the fortress monastery, as well as valuable training grounds for their neophytes. The loss of Incendir III had been a massive shock to the citizens of the system, and the Templars utilized the fear from the populace of foes lurking around every corner, reshaping the system's culture into a war-ready society. Influential and affluent families compete to give their offspring an improved chance at the glory of service, with new academies popping up to foster and cultivate so-called "noble potential," advertising skills of great merit to the Gold Templars.

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of the world of Incendir II.

Incendir II is a lush planet of leisure and prosperity. When the system was initially reclaimed by the Imperium, the noble class of Incendir's feudal era matured into the wealthy elite on this world, dominating profit and occupying the top of the social strata. The economy of Incendir II was able to survive in a more meaningful state after the fall of Incendir III due to its popularity with out-of-system visitors. However, the upper class of the Incendir System had grown decadent in their wealth, which availed various debaucheries. Many in the ranks of the chapter feel that if Khorne did not seize a grip on the system, Slaanesh surely would have. The epitome of this suspicion was centered around the knight house Doros that briefly existed on the planet. Shortly before the Homeworld War, the knight house was of great influence over the planet, but became extremely elusive and secretive when the Mechanicus began converting Incendir III. The Chateau of house Doros was abandoned, but there are rumors of them operating in secret, hiding in the bureaucratic structure of the system and pulling strings.

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of the planet Incendir IV.

The hive world of Incendir IV was not so fortunate. The working population was largely reliant on the commerce brought by the industries on Incendir II and III, and poverty soon became an immense problem. The hive cities fell from reasonably self-sustained systems into destitute slums all across the planet. Manufactorums saw mass closings, and there was little hope. The reconstruction efforts on Incendir III did little to cushion the impact of the collapsed economy. When the Gold Templars returned to the system to build their fortress monastery and establish a steady supply of new recruits, many citizens of Incendir IV were far more resentful of their new lords, viewing the marines as yet more nosey nobles to rule over them. Others of the hive saw this as a great boon, enlisting for armed service as Silver Scions to grant food rations to their families and to seek some purpose in existence. Still, the Templars would screen the population of their own accord and select neophytes of any household of their choosing, which was facilitated by the planets' sophisticated bureaucracy and social identification system. Dissenters remarked that the Gold Templars treat their worlds like the Blood Angels treat Baal, merely a deathworld with two large spheres of resource nearby to do with as they please.

Fortress-Monastery

The structure they used for defense during the Homeworld War was converted into their fortress-monastery, known as Lux Bastille. The fortress is the center of a large distribution network of soldiers, and while it does serve the purpose of storing and maintaining the chapter's relics, armory, and libraries, the troop organization is handled primarily onboard the battle barges of the chapter.

Forces are rarely stationed at the monastery in large numbers, with a small contingent of forces in place to defend the system. When neophytes are fully trained, they are sent on void ships to one of the systems in the Imperium Nihilus where marines are needed most. Gold Templars that are rising to a new company will return to Lux Bastille to complete rites of ascension and acquire new equipment. Due to the need for efficient use of resources, multiple squads will ascend at the same time, making the events infrequent.

Chapter Organization

The Gold Templars organization structure is rather similar to the Blood Angels proper, and they are a predominantly Codex-compliant chapter, though there are various key differences. The command structure replaces the Sanguinary Guard with the Templar Praetorians, which contains the chapter's rare relic terminator armors, and is led by the Executioner. The second and third companies are not standard battle companies, but instead contain members of tactical acumen applicable to either heavy assault or rapid airborne attack.

Astartes Officer Ranks

• Arch-Templar - The equivalent of Chapter Master
• High Templar - Leading Captain of a given company
• Techno-sergeant - Standard Sergeant replacement in all squads

Astartes Specialist Ranks & Formations

• Saturnine Templar - The Captain of the second company
• Executioner - Leader of the Templar Praetorians
• Templar Praetorian - Gold Templars equivalent of the Sanguinary Guard of the Blood Angels, the elite force of the chapter and protector of the Arch-Templar
• Ironclad - Second company tactical dreadnought
• Corpus Accelerata - Third company airborne soldiers. This includes jump pack equipped space marines, as well as aircraft and voidcraft pilots

Astartes Line Ranks & Neophytes

• Templar Adept - New inductees to the chapter

Order of Battle

Headquarters

Chapter Command
Arch-Templar Malvé Chapter Champion Phil Swift Chapter Ancient
Templar Praetorium
Artur, the Executioner 20 Relic Terminators
Reclusiam	Logisticiam	Templar Mechanicum
Jormungandr 9 Chaplains	Overseer Iniarchus Chapter serfs and servitors	Tervos, Master of the Forge 26 Techmarines Servitors Centurion Warsuits Bikes Land Raiders Land Speeders Repulsors Baal Predators Hunters Stalkers 3 Astraeus super heavy tanks
Apothecarion	Fleet Command	Librarius
Brother Aramiel Chief Apothecary Apothecarium Brotherhood Sanguinary Priests	Fleet Admiral Triarchus Battle Barge Key of Sanguinius Battle Barge Voidtooth Fury Interceptors Thunderhawks Stormhawks Stormtalon Gunships Stormraven Gunships	Chief Librarian Lucretius Epistolaries Codificiers Lexicanum Dorian the Half Breed Librarian Dreadnoughts

Companies

Veteran Company	Tactical Dreadnought Company	Mobile Company	Battle Companies
1st Company Bastion Primus	2nd Company The Ironclad	3rd Company Corpus Accelerata	4th Company Sunblazers	5th Company Bloodkeepers
High Templar Adris 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Sternguard Veterans Bladeguard Veterans Company Veterans Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	Saturnine Templar Aedir Terminator Ancient 10 Terminator Squads 10 Assault Terminator Squads 10 Aggressor Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	High Templar Kabir 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Sanguinary Ancient Vanguard Veterans Inceptors Suppressors Company Veterans Transport Aircraft	High Templar Dexter 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans 10 Battleline Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	High Templar Oswin 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans 10 Battleline Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles

Battle Company	Reserve Companies			Scout Company
6th Company Paladins	7th Company Gilded Knights	8th Company Crimson Spirits	9th Company Soul of Baal	10th Company New Dawn
High Templar Raka 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans 10 Battleline Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	High Templar Oshiro 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans 6 Battleline Squads 2 Close Support Squads 2 Fire Support Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	High Templar Gadriel 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans 6 Battleline Squads 2 Close Support Squads 2 Fire Support Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	High Templar Thorne 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans 6 Battleline Squads 2 Close Support Squads 2 Fire Support Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles	High Templar Al-Katib 2 Lieutenants Company Champion Company Ancient Company Veterans Sergeant Lumbassa 10 Vanguard Squads Scout Squads Dreadnoughts Transport Vehicles

Death Company

High Templar Ordys, Overseer of the Fading Legion of the Lost

Combat Doctrine

The chapter's approach to combat is extremely methodical, contrary to the more glorious and flamboyant approach to warfare that their sire chapter typically employs. The Gold Templars often favor ranged combat, relying often on heavy armaments and overwhelming firepower to ensure victory. In conjunction with the Baal pattern bolters, the chapter's marines frequently employs the Godwyn pattern and Cawl pattern bolt weapons due to their ease of manufacturing and reliability. Additionally, due to the dilapidated urban setting of select parts of their home world, close quarters battle and urban warfare are well within the skillset of the Templars, employing use of close quarters battle armaments such as Astartes shotguns and bolter-mounted chainswords.

Chapter Gene-Seed

The chapter grafts their gene-seed unto neophytes via the traditional "insanguination" method of the Blood Angels and their successors. At the outset of the chapter, the manifestation of the Blood Angels' twin curses was not unique. However, over time, the expression of the twin curses of the sons of Sanguinius began to twist in an unusual fashion. The effects of these manifestations are thought to be very pronounced due to the distinct psychic abilities gifted by the Blood Angels gene-seed.

The results of this transformed gene-seed are partially beneficial, although the qualities that many saw as great in the Blood Angels are reduced or not present in the Templars, and their combat efficacy suffers with regards to melee, a source of some shame among the marines.

Genetic Flaws

The Black Rage manifests as a dark cloud of hatred in the mind of the Gold Templars; the onset of the rage is slow, crawling through the mind of a Templar and consuming his passion for humanity with an obsession over the obliteration of his foes. A Chaplain will grant the Emperor's mercy to a Gold Templar when his mind is no longer capable of showing compassion and care for his race. The behavior of the lost in this chapter often involves intense clutching of their armaments, furious glaring during otherwise calm moments, and inability to focus on conversations.

The Red Thirst manifests far less frequently in the throes of battle for the Templars. A cold, calculating approach to slaying foes is pervasive among these marines, the sole deviation from which is combat against the forces of Chaos. While the improved bloodlust can help deliver victories against said foes, the connection has been found worrisome to say the least, with the threat of chaos' grip closing around their throats ever closer.

A new psyker born to this chapter is particularly rare. However, contrary to the anguish that accompanies their brothers in the sarcophagus during insanguination, a battle brother that is destined to awake with psychic prowess will instead transform during what is known as the "calm slumber." Those who awaken describe a serene, contemplative sensation, accompanied with a newfound sense of understanding. In addition to this, the distinct effect on other Gold Templars is especially profound on those lost to the black rage, where on rare occasions, a rampaging battle brother can briefly be brought to his senses.

A Librarian of this chapter that does has not fallen in combat eventually returns to a dormant state, after nearly three hundred years. This dormant state often lasts approximately one terran year, but can stretch as long as multiple decades, and closely resembles the calm slumber during their insanguination. The librarians awaken reporting that they feel psychically and physically rejuvinated, and are sometimes given a rare glimpse of foresight, prophesizing events in the chapter's future.

The cause of these genetic impurities has been hypothesized to be partially connected to Dorian's gene-seed, who has often slumbered for multiple decades in his state of hibernation. The original sample of Blood Angel genetic material for the chapter was unaltered, but as the progenoid glands were harvested from the founding members, their shifted genetic makeup began to make ripples. Latent effects from Dorian's spontaneous transformation may play a significant role in the development of later psykers in the chapter, and the calming effect of Librarians implies a unique attenuation of the minor psychic presence the marines share, despite the majority of the chapter not being true psykers.

While most Blood Angels successor chapters create sons of fair skin, the insanguination process of the Gold Templars does not appear to affect the tone of these marines. Additionally, the platinum blond hair created by this process is not seen evenly on these marines, with some retaining the dark hair they were inducted with, while others see growth of new blond beards and locks.

Chapter Culture & Beliefs

Despite being a descendant of the spirited Blood Angels, the Gold Templars are a very demure chapter. Their overall attitude is more subdued, and while they still harbor the righteous fury of their brothers deep within, their approach to combat is more pragmatic and tactical. While this causes a manifestation of the Red Thirst in a notably reduced capacity, the greatest difference is in the chapter's expression of the Black Rage. The silent, seething rage of a Gold Templars death company, marine has been known to have very unsettling effects on the battle brothers of other chapters. Chaplains follow a very different guideline for merciful execution of this death company, as these soldiers remain competent and lucid for longer than other death companies, albeit at the cost of the shock-and-awe brutality that makes death companies so exemplary in general.

Chapter Librarians hold a very important spiritual place among the ranks of the Templars. Because of the focus and clarity of mind that often accompanies their presence, they have been dubbed "calm bringers." The outward behavior of psykers in this chapter is very reserved even in comparison to the modest nature of their battle brothers. Many have speculated on the cause of this strange thought process, with many Librarians ruminating on why they feel such tranquility, often having remarked that they feel some deep "understanding" of the immaterium.

The Templars hold a more humble view of their responsibilities as a chapter, and believe in a more significant value in human life. Their perceived role as a ruling class of lords is supplemented by their view of stewardship, and a strong sense of duty is instilled among them. The Conclave believes that the galaxy cannot be claimed if the inhabitants are slaughtered and the planets are reduced to barren wastelands. Exterminatus of a human inhabited world is carried out with a heavy heart, with quick, painless efficiency, and only as a last resort.

Often, as reprimand for callous behavior, a battle brother will be forced to serve in a significantly more human labor, most often on an agri-world. An individual such as a space marine is of immense value to farming colonies, and it is meant to instill the humility necessary for the chapter to truly manage reclamation of human worlds. If an agri-world is much too far away, other options include manufactorums, or the notorious "Guard Duty," during which the Astartes is temporarily demoted to a sergeant of an Incendir Auxilia squad and uses Astra Militarum grade equipment, such as plasma guns and heavy bolters. However, this practice has caused increased scrutiny from the Inquisition due to an unfavorable overlap between the forces of the Astra Militarum and Adeptus Astartes.

Due to the stark contrast to the elegance and nobility of Blood Angels chapters of old, such as the Angels Encarmine and Blood Drinkers, the Gold Templars often face judgements and doubts from brother chapters about their combat efficacy, affability, or even their loyalty. Because of this, the Gold Templars are always eager to prove themselves on the field of battle. The chapter holds the honor and pride of their heritage to very high esteem, and the responsibility that the sons of Sanguinius carry is not lost on them.

As other Blood Angels do, they harbor a severe hatred for Khornate demons, particularly of the Skullsworn warband. Their widespread deployment across multiple systems is seen by many as a protective measure against their prophesied 8th incarnation, which would wreak utter havoc on the Imperium of man.

Chapter Recruitment

While there are many human laborers present on Incendir III at any given time, there are no residential habitat settlements. Therefore, the chapter recruits primarily from Incendir IV, due to its extremely dense population. Open recruitment centers exist near major military compounds, with regular military propaganda circulated to sustain recruitment rates. Due to immense problems with poverty, the ranks of the Auxilia are seldom wanting.

At the same time, genetic screening is performed by the chapter themselves to ascertain those who are born with the genetic structure needed for chapter induction. All families are required to tithe a newborn deemed suitable for insanguination.

In addition to fresh inductees, the Gold Templars are eager to work alongside other space marine chapters, especially other Blood Angels. Occasionally, successor chapters will consign members to the Templars for the purposes of training, or even punishment, depending on the outlook of the chapter in question. A panoply of Blood Angels heraldry stirs a greater fighting spirit in the Gold Templars, and Veterans from other chapters of more favorable relations have even boasted about having spent time in the ranks of the Templars.

The Conclave

The chapter was founded on a core coalition of Blood Angels veterans, and later expanded to include the chapter's brightest warriors, all sharing unique close relationships with one another. The organization of the chapter revolves primarily around their leadership, from chapter training to troop deployment. Each fulfills a distinct role, with their authority being nigh-absolute, and each delegating instructions to various captains and other personnel.

Dorian the Half Breed

Dorian used to be a guardsman Captain from the Cadian regiment. He was serving onboard the Quintessence of Victory when it was called to Incendir III. His squad traveled from the drop site to Bluestone Fort, alongside a space marine squad, including the Librarian in command, Enoch. The marines and the guardsmen were slowly picked off along the way, and Enoch was viciously wounded in a confrontation with a Khorne Berzerker before entering the protection of the fort. The Guardsman squad and two remaining marines brought his weakened body into the bowels of the fort, where an Apothecary was to attempt to heal his wounds.

Of the archeotech housed in the inner chamber of the fortress, one such contraption was a gene-augur undergoing reclamation for surgical use. As Enoch was brought into the room, however, his psychic presence awakened the machine, thrumming to life. The machine ensnared Enoch in a beam of energy, and Dorian alongside him, while he was helping carry him to safety. The gene-augur immediately began removing sections of Enoch's body and transposing them into Dorian, including muscle mass, and even sections of his brain and skull. The power fluctuation of the ancient device began causing the void shield protecting the fortress to falter. In his fading consciousness, Enoch could sense that the device had engaged a receptacle to channel warp energy. In a desperate bid to shut the machine down to protect the void shield, he sent a psychic wave into the machine, overloading its internals. Before the machine could fully transpose Enoch's organs, its core circuitry burned out, filling the room with smoke. Dorian was able to be revived by the apothecary, having most of the Astartes' organs transplanted into his body in a functional state. Enoch's armor was disassembled, only to reveal a burned husk inside.

During the defense of the fortress, Dorian was allowed to test his newly formed body, guided by the latent mind of Enoch, and the psychic presence he was still able to manifest. While Dorian was a much weaker psyker than Enoch had been, he did gain the ability to teleport small objects. Additionally, his augmented musculature was sufficient for wielding a bolter without much trouble.

After reinforcements arrived to secure the planet, Dorian was silently brought aboard the Wing of Baal to be returned to Baal for evaluation. The vids recorded from his helmet and the testimony of the surviving Blood Angels purported that he was far from useless as an Astartes, and although some proposed housing him in the Tower of the Lost, his cursed state was managed by the guiding essence of Enoch. Instead, Dorian began indoctrination as a neophyte and was trained as a psyker, in order to preserve the knowledge transferred to him through Enoch's mind.

Having skills in a wide variety of wargear, honed psychic abilities, and connections with multiple exemplary Blood Angels marines, his candidacy for the Conclave was undeniable. His combat flexibility allows him to see a wider range of deployment in a theater of war. His first contact with Astartes after his mutation was directly with Indrovar, who continued to observe his combat prowess improve and his skills develop while he was a member of the 10th company. He was selected as an icon for overcoming adversity, and the inner strength of all who fight for mankind.

Arch-Templar Indrovar

Indrovar became the chapter master of the Gold Templars when it was formed. He was a hero of the Blood Angels, a veteran space marine that could show astonishing control over his Red Thirst. Indrovar was able to channel his gifts on the battlefield in a way that many didn't think was possible, which was of immense aid to him as a Vanguard Veteran. He was promoted to the Blood Angels first company after his service on Incendir III, and continued to show exemplary leadership, which garnered attention from the Deathwatch.

His experience leading a Deathwatch kill team granted him his expertise in deployment of disparate space marine chapters in the same force. As the Gold Templars are more eager to induct members from other Blood Angels successor chapters such as the Lamenters, as well as other fully distinct chapters, this is a particularly useful skill.

During the 12^th Black Crusade, he gave his life to destroy an enemy battle barge that was closing in to virus bomb the Incendir system. He commanded the Key of Sanguinius to ram the enemy, and during the destruction of the foe's battle barge, it fired a close range blast directly at the bridge. The void shield was able to prevent the full brunt of the attack from destroying the ship entirely, but ever officer on the bridge was killed.

Artur the Executioner

Artur, Executioner of the Gold Templars chapter, is a veteran of immense battlefield prowess, known for his menace against particularly large foes. In the course of the Gothic war, he was awarded the honor of adorning Terminator armor due to his veterancy, and the dire nature of their foes.

The role of the Executioner is twofold. First, he is the leader of the Templar Praetorians, an elite sect of relic terminators that adorn some of the oldest and most venerated armor in the chapter. Second, he directly trains the Gold Templar’s 3rd company commander, leader of the tactical dreadnought company. Similarly inspired by Dorian's appreciation of somewhat unreasonably powerful weapons, Artur wields an immense assault cannon and power fist, to crush enormous xenos and to make ribbons of clustered heretics alike. Despite his peers adorning themselves with more ancient combat relics, Artur favors his more standard suit of Indomitus pattern armor, as he wears it like a second skin. His understudy, Saturnine Templar Aedir, reserves the honor of bearing the sole Saturnine pattern armor in the chapter, one of the few known to exist in the entire imperium.

When it came time to select a new chapter master of the Gold Templars, Artur was a prime selection. Should he have seen fit to acquiesce to that role, it would have been his, but for his favored front line combat role. His abilities to lead a combat squad were remarkable, but his passion for the destruction of his enemies was superlative.

Garith, The First Saturnine

During early M41, the excursion on the space hulk Terror of the Fold by Champion Swift yielded the blessed Saturnine pattern Terminator armor from an intact crusade-era armory. While the chapter's Praetorium was the first consideration for such a relic, the sheer size of the armor made it less practical for squad-based tactical deployment, and coordination between multiple Terminators. On the contrary, the heavily armored second company made for a more fitting home.

As such, High Templar Garith, then captain of the second company, was awarded with the privilege to carry this artifice into battle. The stature of this warplate put Garith physically far above his comrades, with his size beginning to rival even dreadnoughts. The intimidation of this new armor brought significant victories following its recovery.

Phil Swift

Chapter champion Phil Swift rose to prominence within the Gold Templars chapter as a firebrand of an aspirant, claiming the title of Champion of each company in a mere century. The most remarkable parts of his service as Champion are the reclamation of various artifacts and archeotech, among which is even the revered set of Saturnine terminator armor that now belongs to the second company.

Unlike the other members of the Conclave, Phil Swift was appointed to his position by his own victory. A trial was held for the position, simply known at the time as "the choosing." It was not shared what the prize for the choosing was, but all Blood Angels masters of melee were invited to participate. Many underestimated Swift, as he was perceived to be an upstart in some regards. He was a neophyte but his aspirations were extreme, and as a result of pushing his body and mind to their limits, he overcame every combatant in the arena and was awarded the opportunity to participate various excursions in deep space.

Tervos

Tervos was known amongst techmarines for a more self-sustained approach, and served under Brother Incarael of the Blood Angels for centuries. He was called upon by Indrovar to serve in the new successor chapter, the Gold Templars, and he accepted the call with relish. The challenge of being tech starved, excluded from fresh equipment supply with a dire need to repair any and all equipment when possible was exactly what he was after.

Indrovar first met Tervos when he was transferring for service in the Deathwatch. He was given special requisition orders to obtain custom artificer armor, an experimental precursor to gravis armor, of improved efficiency and maneuverability. Tervos began forging the armor but, true to his obsession with efficiency, altered the blueprint and managed to fashion an improved design that could accommodate the combat style of Indrovar much better.

Sergeant Gren Lumbassa

Sergeant Lumbassa was the first of a new line of “techno sergeants,” field operatives with an improved mechanical skill. Versed in both technical knowledge and combat prowess, these technical minded soldiers serve as field mechanics stationed at distant worlds. The Adeptus Mechanicus is not able to constantly send techmarines to fringe colonies that have little in the way of technological outfitting, so these sergeants are trained in the ways of repairing and maintaining equipment for long excursions away from a base of operations.

As such, he serves in the tenth company, training neophytes in the ways of the Templars. His methods of teaching mechanical knowledge have greatly assisted in the rapid indoctrination of new troops, and his esoteric combat tactics (typically along the lines of using mechanical equipment as close range weaponry) are seen as quite welcome idiosyncrasies.

Jormungandr

Jormungandr is old, even amongst dreadnoughts. Unfortunately, the knowledge of how old he is has been lost, including to himself. Perhaps after too much damage in combat, or possibly the simple onset of madness that befalls some dreadnoughts, Jormungandr unfortunately cannot even remember what chapter he was sired to.

His absence of mind has made him an outcast. While the sheer size of a Dreadnought, combined with their age and wisdom, commands much respect from space marines, Jormungandr does not remember what primarch he calls his own. His armor has borne the insignia of multiple chapters, and his name is a remnant of even that. According to his fragmented memory, he was deployed for the longest period he can recall with the Space Wolves, who granted him the nickname after the world-serpent of ancient mythology. As he could not remember his own name, he became quite comfortable with this title and the camaraderie it brought.

While he spent over three centuries in service to the Vlka Fenryka, the complex mythos and spirituality wore on his mind, at odds with his existing representation of Imperial loyalty. By the time he was eventually found by the Blood Angels, his squad had been wiped out, and he was trapped under the flaming wreck of a destroyed Land Raider. They took him in as he was a gibbering wreck, sparing the Space Wolves the sight of his fractured sanity. When a Chaplain spoke with him, the Blood Angels discovered that his fervor for the emperor was muted by the Space Wolves' own beliefs of the Allfather, and that he drove himself mad trying to integrate with their chapter's culture. After long enough in the company of the Blood Angels and their traditional style of Imperial loyalty, his passion for the Emperor was rekindled as it always should have been, and what wisdom he retained was deemed useful in the station of Chaplaincy.

Jormungandr was selected to teach Dorian the spiritual and philosophical ways of the Adeptus Astartes. Dorian relished the opportunity to speak a dreadnought, which guardsmen often think to be mere automata. Jormungandr had experienced respect and reverence from his chaplaincy, but Dorian's appreciation of deftly handled massive weapons was a rather new form of admiration, and the two developed a bond. Jormungandr's reverence for the Emperor was carried into the new chapter's founding, and due to the unlikelihood that he is of Blood Angels descent, he shall never submit to the Black Rage.

Brother Aramiel

Brother Aramiel was the original designer of the technology used by the Gold Templars, and was a Techmarine from the original blood Angels armoury division. His psycho-erasure technology was based on existing mental cleansing chemical agents, as well as psychic techniques, the difficulty of which requires a psychically gifted chapter such as the blood angels to carry out en-masse.

He was the superintendent for the Apothecarium Brotherhood during the chapter's founding, and oversaw the acts of human-reclaiming planetary recovery that the Gold Templars participated in, directly training the chief apothecary in the function of the new technology. Mind erasure on a large scale has shown to maintain human presence on fringe colonies that have been reclaimed from the forces of chaos. The maintenance of this technology was subsequently taught to the head of the Templar Mechanicum, and memory wiping technology officially fell under the joint purview of select apothecaries in the Brotherhood, alongside the Master of the Forge.

Chapter Fleet

• Key of Sanguinius (Battle Barge) - This ship's layout was commissioned in part by Indrovar to carry the chapter's first 3 companies into battle. The ship is specially outfitted to equip airborne, dreadnought, and veteran marines as quickly as possible, to deliver the most powerful crushing blow that the chapter can muster in any given assault. The ship is equipped with powerful engines to aid in quick response strikes wherever needed, and houses two large shuttle bays for fleet deployment.

• Voidtooth (Battle Barge) - The Voidtooth was reclaimed from a destroyed strike cruiser that once belonged to the Sons of Antaeus, known as Guilliman's Gaze. The barge was previously outfitted with an experimental weapon, but after it was nearly destroyed in void combat, the experimental weapon was quietly scavenged and the ship was decommissioned by the Sons of Antaeus. As a repository for resources, Incendir III made a fitting destination for the hull. The wreck from the Quintessence of Victory had been reclaimed and resided in a shipyard on the planet, so the two defunct ships were combined and retrofitted to create a single battle barge. While the profile of this vessel takes on an ungainly shape, its efficacy in void combat is far from handicapped.

Chapter Relics

• Invictus - A storm bolter with an underslung lasgun, that bears high gothic inscriptions. Dorian insisted on a lasgun to dispatch of foes where a bolter round was a waste of munitions, but in truth he was particularly nostalgic of the Cadian-style weapon and did not want to leave it by the wayside.

• Forcefang - A force sword that was previously used by Enoch on Incendir III, it passed to Dorian after it awoke to his psychic presence.

• Emperor's Thunder - A two handed autocannon that fires specialty bloodshard slugs, an adapted version of the bloodshard shell used in blood angel boltguns, designed to shred through armor.

• The Emperor's Gavel - A boltstorm gauntlet linked to a thunder hammer, used by Indrovar and created by Tervos. The combined power output can be used to destroy masses of enemies in a single swing, or devastate vehicles.

• Artificer Gravis Armor and Assault Bolter - Alongside the Emperor's Gavel, the Gravis armor and assault bolter originally utilised by Indrovar are passed down to successive chapter masters when they achieve their role.

• Twin Rage - A twin linked relic autocannon from the Blood Angels' vaults. The weapon itself is not particularly effective by modern standards but was granted to Dorian after his request to acquire greater armaments. The armorium thought granting his ridiculous request would allow him to see why this was a weapon intended for Terminators; instead the unorthodox muscle density in his right arm, and a degree of sheer determination, allowed him to wield the weapon effectively.

• Bluestone wall - A void shield generator from the Dark Age of Technology. This void shield was the one that allowed Bluestone Fort from being successfully breached during the Homeworld War. After reclamation, it was retooled by Tervos and now protects vital areas on the Key of Sanguinius.

• Saturnine armor - The most ancient pattern of terminator armor, Saturnine armor, is extremely rare. Almost all suits are maintained by the original founding legions, due to their age. Discovered on a space hulk that was detected on a voyage in the outer reaches of the galaxy, this suit was claimed by Champion Swift for the glory of the chapter. The suit's divine protections, and massive stature, are cherished by the second company.

• Sanguine Flesh - A partially destroyed set of Imperial pattern power armor that resides in Lux Bastille. The armor cannot be worn as its systems are highly unstable due to its damaged state, but the sections that are still intact are studied by the Adeptus Mechanicus on Incendir III to attempt to replicate some of the lost technology within.

• The Gilt Demitasse - The original Blood Chalice of the chapter's founding. From this chalice, all neophytes are insanguinated to become a Gold Templar. The stature of this cup is somewhat small compared to a typical Blood Chalice carried by a Sanguinary Priest, symbolic of the small circle of comrades that the original genetic material was drawn from.

Chapter Appearance

"The name of the chapter is such that you understand what we truly are. We are not 'golden,' as the light of the Emperor is not merely about us, but we are Gold, as it is very much a part of us. It beams forth, in effervescent rays."

—Sergeant Lumbassa, to a young neophyte in training.

The iconography of the Gold Templars varies significantly from traditional Codex-compliant markings. Their prominent adornments are highly symbolic, featuring bold metallic surfaces on both shoulders and on their helmets. The command insignia is an ancient symbol for "Terra" instead of the skull denoted by the Codex Astartes. The average battle brother eschews the chapter's badge on the left shoulder, with the light reflecting off his gold pauldrons symbolizing the sun's gleam.

The company markings of the Gold Templars bear a similarity to the Blood Angels, though the first, second, third, and tenth have symbolic icons; the sword of the Veterans, the artillery shells of The Ironclad, the wing of the airborne, and the corona of the neophyte respectively.

Chapter Colours

The Gold Templars armor color base is deep black, with gold accents, and a gold helmet stripe. The typical chapter insignia is not present on most marines' armor, and is reserved for Librarians and command individuals. Instead, both shoulders are gold with black trim. Squad specialty (Tactical, Assault, Devastator, or Veteran) is indicated on the right knee, and company is indicated on the left knee. The rank of lieutenant is indicated by a red highlight on the left shoulder plate, as opposed to black, and Sergeant is denoted by a red helmet. Veteran Sergeant status is denoted by a Mechanicus cog on the shoulder instead of red helmet. Higher ranked individuals, such as Captains, feature more unique armor configurations and regalia. While gold is the chapter's predominant accent color, silver is seen as a commemoration of the fallen, and nearly all gold templars feature an amount of silver somewhere on their weapons or armor.

Dorian the Half Breed with a relic Autocannon, a prized possession of his chapter, as well as his Combi-Lasgun "Invictus", a concoction of the Gold Templars.

Company insignia of the Gold Templars.

Tactical roles of the Gold Templars.

Rank insignia of the Gold Templars.

Brief examples of armor patterns.

Gold Templars Death Company Intercessor

Death Company

The death company of the Gold Templars replaces the gold of the helmet and shoulders with silver, and the skull of the gold Aquila is colored red instead. A silver "X" is featured on the left knee, and a silver teardrop on the right. Sacred iconography is often outfitted more heavily onto Death Company warriors.

Neophytes

For non-scout squads, such as Vanguard squads like Eliminators, they adorn the all black ceramite armor with gold accents, but the skulls of their heraldry are all silver. These neophytes are known as Templar Adept.

Other Chapters

When members of other chapters are inducted into the Gold Templars, they are often encouraged to keep their heraldry. A battlefield of Astartes that features a great number of Blood Angels successor chapter iconography works to the advantage of the Gold Templars due to the increased confusion of their foes. However, the heraldry of almost all chapters is understood by the Templars so there is no need to enforce their own markings on battle brothers. Should a battle brother from another chapter fall to the black rage, their chapter is contacted to ask if they desire the brother for their own death company, or if his death in service of the Gold Templars is suitably honorable.

Chapter Badge

Gold Templars chapter insignia.

The chapter insignia of the Gold Templars is the Rising Sun of the Emperor, a seven-pointed Iron Halo crescent. This badge is not displayed on the armor of most battle brothers.

Relations

Allies

• Adeptus Mechanicus - The presence of Tervos in the Conclave and the reliance on the forges on Incendir III result in very close ties to the Adeptus Mechanicus. The superior technology that the chapter relies upon maintains a steady flow, though outsiders have inquired as to what goes on behind closed doors on the forgeworld.
• Astra Militarum - Officers and personnel from the Astra Militarum are highly involved with the Incendir Auxilia, either from past relations and customs or due to new contact and administrative heirarchy. The Gold Templars use the Incendir Auxilia as a conduit for any Astra Militarum involvement.

Enemies

• The Skullsworn - The greatest enemies of all Blood Angels are the minions of Khorne, and the Skullsworn warband are the mortal enemies of the Gold Templars. The Templars use ranged combat and high-energy weapons to deny these daemons their bloodlust. While the Gold Templars are somewhat shamed by their rejection of close combat melee, it drives Khornate daemons mad, which often results in the ability to strategically disrupt enemy forces.

Notable Quotes

By the Gold Templars:

"We are the star that shines from the sky
We are the sunbeam that glares from on high"

— A section of chapter Chaplain pre-battle chant

"Those Orks may have a point with that whole 'more dakka' thing."

— Dorian the Half Breed

About:

"The lugubrious Gold Templars, an embarrassment of a chapter. The pitiful fools will weep over every system, every planet, every soul lost."

— Unknown Marines Malevolent Captain.

[Source] [Source]

Gallery

A Gold Templars Firstborn Battle-Brother of the 5^th Company ("Bloodkeepers"), Battleline Squad.

The Gilt Demitasse, vessel of the chapter's gene-seed.