Emperor's Wardens

Emperor's Wardens Armorial

Emperor's Wardens Tactical Marine

### **Specialty**

Siege Warfare, Co-ordinated Mass-Theatre Warfare, Stronghold Assaults, Defensive & Fortification Operations in Extremis

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

"*In War, Victory.
In Peace, Vigilance.
In Death, Sacrifice.*"
— Motto of the Emperor's Wardens
The **Emperor's Wardens** is a *Codex*-compliant Space Marine Chapter of unknown Founding who's gene-seed comes from the heroic and much lauded Ultramarines Chapter. The Wardens are characterized by their fanatic devotion to the God-Emperor of Mankind and to the Imperium.

The Chapter comes from the world of Thedosia, a feudal world ruled for millenia by a powerful aristocracy and oversaw by the Sanctum of Nimue, a sanctioned sect of the Imperial Cult worshipping the animistic force known as the Eternal Light, who defend its people against the dangers of the Galaxy and beyond.

## Chapter History

The Emperor's Wardens have been founded in the late 36th Millenium, after the dreadful Age of Apostasy.

(to be added)

## Chapter Homeworld

The homeworld of the Emperor's Wardens is the Feudal World of Thedosia. It is located within the Segmentum Tempestus.

Thedosia largest landmass is the frozen Dragon Wastes, an inhospitable land filled with vile beasts and heretics. Because of this, most of the local population lives in the southern peninsula known as the Realm of Nimue, a lush land covered with plains and Ork-infested forests.

While technically united by the Sanctum and under the rule of the First Warden, the planet is actually divided into a myriad of feuding kingdoms and city-states. But as long as they don't interfere with the most important business of the Imperium, they are left to fight for their petty reasons.

### Fortress-Monastery

The Fortress-Monastery of the Emperor's Wardens is called Greyhold, a magnificent palace build within the Spine, the towering mountain range far in the North. Greyhold is so high that only a few mortals are able to survive the journey, like the Aspirants selected by the Warden-Vigilants as potential Neophytes, and the rare pilgrims courageous enough.

## Chapter Organization

"*Hierarchy and structure are the backbones of our Chapter. Never forget your place within it my Brothers, or it will cause our doom.*"
— Warden-Commander Alistair Stroud of the 1st House "The Justicars"
The Chapter's structure follows the *Codex Astartes*, being divided into 10 Companies called "Houses". However, the only markings they use are those for their Librarians, Techmarines and Apothecaries, who respectively have the Horned Skull, the Cog Mechanicum and the Prime Helix badges on their right pauldron, otherwise every Battle-Brother uses the same colour pattern.

### Specialist Ranks

The Chapter also uses its own unique titles rather than *Codex*-compliant ones :

* Chapter Master: First Warden
* Captain: Warden-Commander
* Lieutenant: Warden-Constable
* Veteran: Senior Warden
* Scout: Warden-Recruit
* Chaplain: Warden-Vigilant (Master of Sanctity: Grand Vigilant)
* Librarian: Warden-Enchanter (Chief Librarian: Grand Enchanter)
* Company Champion: Herald of the House

### Chapter Structure

Each House is divided into Squads made up of 3, 5 or 10 Astartes. The Tactical, Assault and Devastator are made up of 10 Marines (or only 5 if necessary). The Veteran, Intercessor, Reiver and Hellblaster Squads hosts 5 Marines and the Inceptor, Aggressor and Bike Squads 3 Marines.

Also, Primaris Space Marines and Lieutenants (Warden-Constables) have been incorporated within the Chapter since the Ultima Founding and the end of the Indomitus Crusade.

### The Houses

**1st House "The Chosen":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Alistair Stroud**, the First House is the Veteran Company and hosts the most ancient Battle-Brothers of the Chapter.

**2nd House "The Paladins":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Riordan Cousland**, the Second House is renown for its honorable warriors seeking to slay the most dangerous foes on the battlefield.

**3rd House "The Temple":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Clarel**, the Third House hosts the specialists of siege warfare. They can take any fortress giving enough time and resources. They are also in charge of the Chapter's Fleet.

**4th House "The Tower":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Dryden Hawke**, the Fourth House is charged with the protection of the Chapter's fortress-monastery. They are the best in defence and siege holding of the whole Chapter.

**5th House "The Blades":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Thom Mhairi**, the Fifth House hosts the specialists of guerilla warfare. They make use of stealth and subtlety rather than brute force or firepower.

**6th House "The Pikes":**

* Led by **Warden-Commabder Kell Morgan**, the Sixth House is the first Battleline Reserve Company of the Chapter. They mainly hosts Tactical Marines.

**7th House "The Shield":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Caronel Corin**, the Seventh House is the second Battleline Reserve Company of the Chapter. They have mostly Intercessor Marines.

**8th House "The Rage":**:

* Led by **Warden-Commander Garahel Tius**, the Eighth House is the Close Support Reserve Company. They are specialised in fast close-ranged assault with Assault, Reiver and Inceptor Marines.

**9th House "The Heart":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Carver Howe**, the Nineth House is the Fire Support Reserve of the Chapter. It hosts mostly Devastator and Hellblaster Marines.

**10th House "The Squires":**

* Led by **Warden-Commander Daveth**, the Tenth House serves as the Scout Company and hosts the Wardens-Recruits of the Chapter.

#### The Martyrs of the Emperor (Excommunicate Traitoris)

Led by the former Warden-Commander Loghain McTyr, the 5th House has been sent to protect the world of Hostogar against an incoming Ork WAAAGH! in 056.M42. Unfortunately, even if they managed to evacuate the civilians of the planet, they weren't able to eradicate the Xenos filth. They all have been considered dead after the Inquisition ordered the Exterminatus. It is only decades later, when the Renegade Space Marines warband called the "Emperor's Martyrs" appeared, that the Imperium find out they survived the Exterminatus. But now, they have chosen to fight on their own, serving the Emperor's Imperial Truth and not the Imperium.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

**18 Honour Guards**
**1 Land Raider**
**Chapter Serfs**
**Brother Oghren**
***Master of the Forge***
**Techmarines**
**Servitors**
**Battle Tanks (Predators & Vindicators)**
**Whirlwinds**
**Gunships (Stormtalons & Stormravens)**
**Centurion Warsuits**
**Land Speeders**
**Assault & Attack Bikes**
**Grand Vigilant Yorus Corb**
***Master of Sanctity***
**23 Wardens-Vigilant**
**Whyn Asunder**
***Chief Apothecary***
**23 Apothecaries**
**Grand Enchanter Orsino**
***Chief Librarian***
**2 Epistolaries**
**3 Codiciers**
**4 Lexicaniums**
**6 Acolytes (Neophytes)**
***Master of the Fleet***
**Battle Barges**
**Strike Cruisers**
**Escorts**
**Thunderhawk**

## Chapter Recruitment

When the Chapter needs recruits, the Warden-Vigilants are sent to the most important cities of Thedosia, to take the able-bodied boys aged between 10 and 14 standard years to their Fortress-Monastery. These children will face challenges to see if they could survive the transformation into Space Marines. The ones who fail, but survive, are inducted into the Chapter as Serfs while the others become Neophytes and start their transformation into Astartes.

### The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment is the final test for the Neophytes of the Chapter. During this test, they will have to find and kill a grypas, a huge and dangerous beast, similar to the mythic terran gryphon. Those who succeed will have to bring back the grypas' blood to the Chapter's fortress-monastery and drink it during a ritual led by the Grand Vigilant. Once the ritual achieved, the Neophytes will start their new lives as Warden-Recruits.

## Chapter Beliefs

"*Never forget your duty to Mankind, for you are amongst its finest defenders!*"
— First Warden Duncan Thaddeum
### The Warden's Litany

The Wardens follow the Warden's Litany, a list of tenets established by the first Grand Vigilant of the Chapter, Percival the Great:

* Honour the Emperor, for He is the embodiment of the Eternal Light.
* Obey the Imperium, for it serves the Emperor.
* Abhor the Witches, for they seek to usurp the Emperor.
* Burn the Heretics, for they have betrayed the Emperor.
* Destroy the Mutants, for they are a blasphemy to the Emperor.
* Hate the Aliens, for they have been cast out by the Emperor.

### The Emperor's Divinity

Unlike other Space Marines chapters, the Emperor's Wardens worship the Emperor as the embodiment of the Eternal Light, the main religious figure on Thedosia. This belief has created strong ties between them and the Ecclesiarchy, and the Chapter often fought alongside the Sisters of Battle and the Frateris Militia.

### The Emperor's Enchanters

Despite their extreme hatred of psykers and mutants, the Emperor's Wardens still make use of Librarians in their rank. Those Battle-Brothers are considered to be more trustworthy than mere mortal witches, for their mind and body has been enhanced by the Emperor to resist the temptations of the Abyss.

Unlike the rest of the Chapter, Warden-Enchanters aren't natives of Thedosia. Instead, they were selected at a young age by the Adeptus Astra Telepathica to follow the training of an Astartes.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The Chapter's gene-seed seems to be pure at first sight, but the Emperor's Wardens suffer from a very unique genetic flaw called the *Whisper*, causing a sudden and quick aging. When it occurs, the Astartes hears strange voices in his head, and so the Battle-Brother knows that he will die soon. Thus, he leaves his brethren and go on a crusade of his own, hoping to die in battle against the enemies of Mankind before the *Whisper* takes him completely.

Because of this flaw, the Emperor's Wardens aren't technically immortal like the other Astartes, they usually lives between 3 and 5 centuries before hearing the *Whisper* and the falling of their body. Nevertheless, some Astartes of the Chapter have lived for many more years without having heard any voices, which means that its occurrence differs according to the Astartes.

Also, because of their improved gene-seed, Primaris Wardens should not be affected by this flaw, but only time can confirm it.

### Primarch's Curse: Honour the Codex

In all of their duties, from battle to study, the Emperor's Wardens are thorough, analytical, and attentive to every detail. They are slow to anger and rarely make a rash decision. By constant recourse to the articles of faith enshrined within the Codex Astartes, the Emperor's Wardens are able to face any eventuality with well-practised battle drills and established doctrine. In their dealings with Battle-Brothers from other Chapters, the Emperor's Wardens often fulfil the role of facilitator and peacemaker. While the Battle-Brothers of some Chapters display extremes of character, from hotheaded to taciturn, the Emperor's Wardens are balanced in their approach, and often able to broker agreements between wildly differing points of view. Do to their outlook and character, an Emperor's Warden is likely to turn to the vast tracts of the Codex Astartes that he has memorised for the solution to a problem.

## Combat Doctrine

The Emperor's Wardens are renowned for their protective nature towards the average mortals of the Imperium. Thus, they will always try to save as many civilian lives as possible, but will not hesitate to sacrifice a whole world to protect others.

### The Wardens and the Greenskins

Thedosia, the homeworld of the Wardens, has been infested with Feral Orks for millenia. Thus, the Wardens are used to fight against these abominations and hold a fierce hatred towards them.

## Deathwatch Service

The Chapter's brethren, like most of humanity, believe that no Xenos can ever be trusted. There is no point in attempting to find diplomatic solutions with these foul creatures as there is no acceptable point of discussion. Elimination is the only option that the Emperor's Wardens condone.

Because of that, and also their natural hatred towards the Orks that infest their homeworld, they gladfully sent their Battle-Brothers with enough experience to the Deathwatch, in order to eradicate the alien filth that infest Mankind's rightful dominion.

## Chapter Fleet

* ***Emperor's Judgment* (*Retribution* -class Battleship) *-*** The *Emperor's Judgement* is the largest vessel of the Emperor's Wardens war fleet. It serves as the First Warden personal flagship.
* ***Warden's Oath*** **(*Avenger*-class Grand Cruiser)**
* ***Final Countdown*** **(*Avenger*-class Grand Cruiser)**
* ***Corb's Light*** **(*Gothic*-class Cruiser) *-*** The Corb's Light is the personal flagship of the Grand Vigilant Yorus Corb since the late M37, after he successfully managed to stop a incoming Chaos Space Marines fleet to assault the Shrine World of Kor'ha.
* ***Gehenna* (*Gothic*-class Cruiser)**
* ***Thedosian Might* (*Gothic*-class Cruiser)**
* ***Custodium Eternum* (*Gothic*-class Cruiser)**
* ***Invictium* (*Dictator*-class Cruiser)**
* ***Eternal Valor* (*Hunter*-class Destroyer)**
* ***Vigilante*** **(*Hunter*-class Destroyer)**

## Chapter Relics

* ***Shield of the Grey -*** The *Shield of the Grey* is the most sacred relic of the Chapter. It is a very ancient Storm Shield which belonged to the first First Warden, Carinus the Grey.
* ***Head of the Grypas -*** The *Head of the Grypas* is the name given to the ancient helms that has been forged to look like a mighty grypas' head, giving the bearer a bird-like face. Only the Warden-Commanders and some worthy Veterans are allow to wear one of these because of their sheer numbers.

## Notable Campaigns

**Indomitus Crusade (ca. 999.M41 - 111.M42)**

* Proud sons of Roboute Guilliman, the Emperor's Wardens responded to the call of their Primarch when he launcehd the Indomitus Crusade. The Emperor's Wardens have mainly fought nearby their homeworld, in the Anderfall Sector of the Ultima Segmentum. They fought against the daemonic and alien incursions and managed to secure the whole sector a few years before the end of the crusade and the beginning of the Plague Wars.

**Plague Wars (ca. 111.M42)**

* After having secured their homeworld sector from the daemonic and alien incursions, the Emperor's Wardens joined their Primarch in the Realm of Ultramar to help repel the Daemon Primarch Mortarion and his Death Guard. Unfortunately, they have suffered from heavy losses during the Indomitus Crusade and were mainly used as support and reserves troops.

## Notables Emperor's Wardens

**First Warden Duncan Thaddeum :**

* Before rising to the position of First Warden, Duncan Thaddeum served as a Warden-Recruit within the 10th House, "The Squires", for many decades. One day, after he managed to kill a powerful Chaos Astartes, he has been promoted to the position of House Herald. He then stayed within this House for centuries before becoming the Warden-Commander of the 4th House and then, in 9.150.975.M40, the new First Warden of the Chapter, following the death of his predecessor.

**Grand Vigilant Yorus Corb :**

* The most ancient Battle-Brother of the Chapter, the Grand Vigilant Yorus Corb is highly respected by his brethren, for he is one of the few Wardens that seem to not be afflicted by the *Whisper*, being already aged of more the 700 standard years. Born in a noble family, he was destined to become a Chevalier and to never leaves his homeworld. But fate decided otherwise, and then, aged only of 11 standard years, he has been noticed by the former Grand Vigilant and taken to the Chapter's fortress-monastery. Thus, he started his new life as a Neophyte of the Emperor's Wardens.

**Warden-Commander Alistair Stroud :**

* Now Warden-Commander of the 1st House, "The Justicars", Alistair Stroud has been one of the best element of his Chapter and the most likely heir of the First Warden Duncan Thadeum when he will die. Alistair is a very talented warrior and a born leader who led many successful campaigns, especially against the foul Orks.

**Warden-Epistolary Avernus :**

* When he was still in the 4th House, Avernus managed to kill an Ork Warboss by himself, while using his psychic powers to protect his wounded brethren. Thanks to this achievement, he has been granted the rank of Epistolary and chosen to serve in a Deathwatch Kill-team. He now puts his powers to eradicate the foul xenos that threaten Mankind's rightful domination over the Milky Way.

## Relations

"*As there is but one life, one death, there is but one God, and He is our Emperor.*"
— Grand Vigilant Yorus Corb
### Relations with the Adeptus Ministorum

Due to the proeminence of religion on their homeworld, the Emperor's Wardens have a very strong relation with the Adeptus Ministorum and have fought alongside their forces on many occasions.

### Enemies

**Emperor's Martyrs :**

* The Renegade warband known as the "Emperor's Martyrs" is constantly tracked down by the Emperor's Wardens, who want to eradicate these Traitors in order to erase the shame they brought to the Chapter by their betrayal.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Emperor's Wardens

"*The Emperor sacrificed Himself to protect humanity. It is our duty to continue His fight and to protect His domain and His people.*"
— Warden-Epistolary Avernus
*Feel free to add your own*
### About the Emperor's Wardens

"*You are nothing but the lapdogs of the High Lords! We are the true Chosen of the Emperor, and His will shall be done!*"
— Warden-Commander Loghain McTyr to Duncan Thaddeum
## Trivia

The Chapter has been inspired by the *Grey Wardens* from the franchise *Dragon Age* developed by BioWare.

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