Iron Knights

The Iron Knights' symbol, the war aquila, bestowed to them by the Emperor Himself as a recognition for their services to the Imperium

Colour scheme of the Iron Knights displayed by line-brother Marion Delos, tactical marine of the legion's First Company

## Space Marine Legion

### Observed Strategic Tendencies

Extensive use of heavy shock assaults by Terminator vanguardsMasters of both fortification and siege warfare

### Warcry

"For the glory of Sol!" (pre-fracturing)"In the Acastus' name!" (currently)

"*I have not taken the mantle of Imperial regent over pride, for I am ashamed for allowing my father to fall. I have not taken it out of greed, for the power of the position is a burden before anything else. I have done it because I truly believed in His dream, His vision for a better future for humanity. And cursed be the foul souls who dare stand between mankind and such future, for I shall walk through both heaven and hell to achieve my father's ultimate goal.*"
— Lord Porphyrion Tyvar Gerion, primarch of the Iron Knights, talking with his closest councilors and friends, captain-general Dessima Emmesat of the Brazen Fists and supreme grand master Kachorkin Eihot of the Gilded Drakes
The **Iron Knights**, previously named the Imperial Warriors before their primarch's discovery, are currently one of the few legions that honour the Emperor's lost dream of an unified humanity. Currently residing in the once flourishing Cthonia System, these stern astartes watch over the last remains of the Imperium's golden age, eternally mourning for their Monarch's fall.

Masterful generalists who exel at all fields of battle, especially stock assaults, the sions of Iron are the main force of space marines still active in the Imperium. Their homeworld, Cthonia, the new capital of the Imperium after Terra's fall, is considered by many to be the most well guarded place in the galaxy, all thanks to the sheer volume, violence and dedication of the XVIIth legion.

The legion trace their genetic heritage to Tyvar Gerion, a warmaster in all but title. The primarch not only was granted the title of Solar Praetorian before the Emperor's downfall, receiving full control over all the Segmentum Solar's military forces, but also stood side by side with his father during many battles, being considered one of the best, if not *the* best warrior in the entire Imperium. Tyvar also had a great relation with the masters of the Mechanicum, and aided in the development of many classes of technology used untill this day by Imperial forces.

Most impressive among the Knights' ranks are the Brazen Fists. These warriors are what remained of the Legio Custodes after Terra's destruction. Without the Emperor to protect, many of these warriors felt purposeless and, in His sons, saw the opportunity to once more defend the life of a worthy figure. Most of the golden warriors pledged their allegiance to Tyvar Gerion, in who they perceived the embodiment of their previous master's will. Renamed as the Brazen Fists, the contingent of about 8,000 custodians protect the primarch's life from any and all external threats.

Even though millenia of fracturing has passed, the Iron Knights still work hardly for the reunification of Mankind's multiple dominions. When dealing with most of his brothers, Gerion treats them with open diplomacy rather than outright hostility. However, those of the regent's brethren who swore fealty to the deceiving Chaos Gods are not so lucky, meeting only a cold fury, tempered through the eons and eons, unleashed quickly and without warning over such traitors.

## Legion History

The history of the Iron Knights is long and proud, for they, even being on of the last legions to be organized and launched into the crusading fleets, were actually the first to be reunited with their genetic forebear.

The primarch Tyvar Gerion, having landed at the harsh planet of Cthonia, a barren rocky wasteland close to Terra's galactic location, was found at the border of a rad-desert by the men of Constan Vor, the greatest chieftain among the world's gang-tribes. The barbaric scavengers were truly impressed, for even they couldn't survive the radiation levels without proper gear and medicine.

Believing the child to be either blessed or dark in nature, they take him to their leader to decide what to do with it. Having recently lost his wife and son during a fight with a rival chieftain, Constan sees the kid's appearance as a sign of fortune, and decides the take him as his adoptive son, proclaiming him to be his legitimate heir. The boy was named Tyvar Gerion, the names of Vor's grandfathers and greatest warlords to have walked that forsaken planet.

In only a year, the child grew to tower over every adult man, becoming a fierce warrior who could stand against dozens in the fight pits and chaotic battlefields of Cthonia. Not only did Tyvar improved physically, but through his adoptive father's tutelage, became a strategist like no other, quickly spreading his foster parent's dominions through the planet. Eventually, Constan Vor perished during a battle, and Gerion would inherit the ascending territories.

The fleets of the Emperor arrived at the world's orbit just after the complete conquest of Cthonia occurred. Many people atribute the master of mankind's directioning to the system with Tyvar Gerion's psychic abilities, wich might have served as a beacon to the astropaths of the Great Grade. When making plantfall, the Imperial troops were received with respect and courtesy, receiving supplies and shelter. Impressed by his son's benevolence and martial prowess, the Emperor asked for the reason of such compassion with strangers. The primarch explained that he, with his powers, had already felt his progenitor's coming, and knew of his own purpose. From that moment on, a bond of loyalty and friendship would be created along the two that would last for all the Great Crusade.

## Legion Organization

"*A man without an army is nothing but an insect trying to destroy a rock. An army without men is a carcass long rotten in the inside.*"
—Military thought attributed to Lord Porphyrion Tyvar Gerion
The Iron Knights' main force is divided in 100 hosts of 1,000 astartes, each divided in 10 companies of 100 men. The companies are led by lieutenants that fall under the authority of the host's captain. These 16 captains obey the legion's Lord Commander. Besides this army, two more groups integrate the Knights: the Brazen Fists and the Gilded Drakes.

The first one, formed of the reminiscents of the *Legio Custodes*, is composed of 8 shield-hosts of a thousand men, all led by a Tribune, and are divided in 10 sheld- companies led by a shield-captain. The 8 Tribunes answer to the captain-general of the Fists, the closest man to Tyvar. It is the Brazen Fists duty to protect the Lord Porphyrion' life, as well as the Iives of those invaluable people to the Imperium's survival.

The Drakes, on the other hand, are the Knights' answer to the growing merace that is Chaos. This misterious group of a thousand men are divided in 10 brotherhoods of 100 men, and are led by a grand master. The leader of the Gilded Drakes is the supreme grand master, a glorious psychic warrior who can put greater daemons to shame with his sheer warp presence, and answers directly to the Lord Porphyrion.

### Command Ranks

* **Tyvar Gerion** - Lord Porphyrion of the Imperium and ultimate ruler of the Iron Knights military forces.
* **Lord Commander** - Leader of the Knights' main body and supreme diplomat of the legion's operations.
* **Captain-general** - Leader of the Brazen Fists and personal warden of Tyvar Gerion.
* **Supreme Grand Master** - Leader of the Gilded Drakes, sometimes referred to as 'Bane of the Gods.

### Officer Ranks

* **Captain** - Leader of a host inside the Iron Knights.
* **Lieutenant**  - Leader of a company inside the Iron Knights.
* **Tribune** - Leader of a shield-host inside the Brazen Fists.
* **Shield-captain** - Leader of a sheld-company inside the Brazen Fists.
* **Grand Master** - Leader of a brotherhood inside the Gilded Drakes.

## Relations

"*Many are those that ask wich among the Emperor's glorious sons is the strongest. Wherever one asks me such question, I promptly say that, whatever the case, I would beat any of my brothers in combat. l affirm that not out of spite, but out of duty. I carry the weight of humanity over my shoulders, and failure is simply not an option.*"
—Lord Porphyrion Tyvar Gerion, just after the fatefull War of the Outer Border
As the paragons of the Imperium, the Iron Knights must always struggle to keep good relations with the miriad of factions that comprise its military and political circles. These include not only the other legions that remained alongside Warmaster Tybalt Ulric, but also the organizations that primarily aided the Emperor in His Great Crusade.

* **Dusk Knights** - Perhaps the greatest example on how Tyvar can be flexie, patient and diplomatical. Tybalt Ulric's legion is anathema to all that the Iron Knights believe. While the scions of Cthonia remain conservative in resource spending and favor defence and fortification alove all else, the Lord Warmonger's followers seek tirelessly to expand and reconquer lost territory. Even though pride won't allow any to admit, the two primarchs know that both are important to the Imperium's survival, and this seemingly fickle alliance might be much stronger than it seems.
* **Mortis Legion** - The brave descenders of Lord Valiant Dezimus are great alllies to the knights. Used to extreme conditions and siege situations, many were the occasions when the two legions fought side by side to defend Imperial space against invading threats. If anything else, the XIllth legion is the conciliating bridge between Tyvar's children and their more belicous cousins.

## Gallery

An Iron Knights Veteran Assault Terminator of the 3rd Chapter, 8th Assault Echelon arrayed in formidable Cataphractii pattern Terminator Armour.