Knights of Thunder

Knights of Thunder Armourial with Chapter iconography.

Knights of Thunder Firstborn Sergeant of the elite 1st Company, 1st Veteran Command Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Scindere*)

### **Specialty**

Mass Assault, Targeted Decimation, Planetary Interdiction, Xenos Eradication and Purgation Operations

### **Battle cry**

"Make Like Thunder, Kill Like Lightning!" / "We are His Thunder!"

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

"*We are The Emperor’s Thunder. When we strike, we are only known after our enemy is long gone and dead*"
—Chapter Master Haldon Galfun
The **Knights of Thunder**, also known as the Thunder-kin, are a very young, loyalist, *Codex*-compliant, Space Marine Chapter created from the gene-stock of the zealous Black Templars, and through them, the Imperial Fists. They were introduced as part of a program to expand Space Marine protection over the Segmentum Tempestus, especially the Corribra Sector, from threats emanating from the Veiled Region. While once a fleet based chapter that patrolled the southern Segmentum Tempestus, the chapter was eventually given stewardship over the storm stricken world of Ukkonen and its moons.

Besides Ukkonen, the Knights also control various recruitment bastions on the worlds of Corin, Arcaddo, and Surfen-4.

One characteristic that makes the Knights of Thunder stick out from its brother chapters is its veneration of the Emperor as a deity and his sons as angels. While originally indifferent to humam suffering, the Knights have recently begun to do their utmost to protect human lives, seeing them as the true subjects of the Emperor and thus worthy of respect. Several reforms instituted by their Second Chapter Master, Jegudiel Furel, along with the acquisition of a civilized homeworld, have driven the chapter to extend a much warmer hand of friendship to base-line humans.

Their new philosophy preaches that Space Marines are not simply weapons of war, but also protectors of the people (bearing striking similarities to the philosophies of the Lamenters and Salamanders Chapters) and so they must work with normal humans as much as they fight for the Emperor. This new philosophy came to full fruition during the Ukkonite Civil War (015-016 M42). Despite the corruption and rebellion of the planetary aristocrats to Chaos, the Chapter’s near total destruction, and the use of a massive propaganda campaign to turn the people against the Knights, much of Ukkonen remained loyal to them and aided them in eventually retaking the world for the Imperium - alongside forces from the Sisters of the Order of the Argent Shroud and two companies of the Knights of Gryphonne Chapter.

## Chapter History

### Fleet in The Stars (777-919.M41)

The Knights of Thunder were founded in 750 M41 in the aftermath of the First Tyrannic War (745.M41). Seeing gaping holes in the Imperium’s defense to the galactic south, the High Lords of Terra commissioned the creation of several new chapters to guard the Segmentum Tempestus, the Knights of Thunder included. In a rare show of cooperation, the Imperial Fists and Black Templars worked together to provide the new chapter with Gene-seed and equipment. However, this cooperation ended in a political spat after the Black Templars placed Castellan Haldon Galfun as the Chapter’s first Chapter Master, a position which was set to be filled by one of the new Astartes.

By 777.M41, the Chapter had been fully established as an independent force, comprising some 500 Astarte and steadily growing. In 779.M41, the Knights of Thunder partook in their first operation, The Cleansing of Drachus, where they removed and purged several Tyranid gene-steeler cults on the planet before they could take control of the hive world. The operation was a total success, with no Astarte killed in the line of duty.

Over the next century, the Knights made a specialty of facing and destroying Tyranid threats, becoming one of the Imperium’s foremost experts in their extermination as it finally reached full chapter strength with 1,000 Marines in 861.M41. In 891.M41, however, the Chapter would face its greatest challenge yet in the form of Hive Fleet Hydra. Invading from the galactic south while the Chapter’s fleet was on the western fringe of the Segmentum, the Hive fleet managed to devour five whole inhabited systems before the Knights of Thunder were able to respond. Together with various companies from the Knights of Gryphonne, Crimson Fists, and the Ultramarines, the Knights manage to push back the hive fleet at the world of Badlanding in the Loki Sector, beginning the Loki Crusade (891-897.M41). Over the course of the next 6 years, the force of the Knights and its three allied chapters, coupled with several sector fleets of the Imperial Navy, manage to splinter the Hive Fleet and divert it away from several key Imperial Systems.

For his actions in staving off the Tyranid threat, Chapter Master Galfun was gifted an ancient Iron Halo by the Knights of Gryphonne, forming a bond between the chapters that lasts till this day.

As the galaxy entered the last century of the 41st Millennium, the Knights slowly began to gravitate away from their speciality in anti-Tyranid warfare, as show in 914.M41 when the chapter took part in the “clean up” effort after the Badab War (901-913.M41). In a rare deviation from doctrine, the Chapter sent 3 companies beyond the Segmentum Tempestus to help hunt down the several remaining traitor war-bands of the Astral Claws.

In 916.M41 the chapter engaged in the Cleansing of Bakka after several squads of the Traitor-Astarte War-Band known as the The Shadowed Ones infiltrated the planet’s orbiting shipyards and attempted to sabotage them. The Knights of Thunder manage to liquidate the traitor forces and prevent permanent damage to the world’s ancient fleet docks. These traitors and the Knights would maintain a fierce hatred for each-other for the next century.

### Stewards of Ukkonen (919.M41-015.M42)

For their actions in the defense of Bakka, the High Lords of Terra awarded the chapter the planet of Ukkonen in 919 M41. Located in the Corribra sector, the southernmost point in the Imperium’s territory, the chapter quickly worked to make the planet into its first homeworld.

After their arrival, the world and the system became a beacon of stability in the Corribra Sector, causing a swell of refugees from other war-zones to flock to the planet, increasing the planet and it’s moons’ populations from a collective 38 million in 920.M41, to over 711 million by 985 M41. This caused a widespread housing a food shortage on the world. realizing their duty to the planet, the Knights engaged in the Cleansing of Phillipa II and Verdana 987 M41, allowing the chapter to begin a recolonization program on the newly freed worlds, taking the pressure of resettlement off of Ukkonen.

As the Thirteenth Black Crusade picked up around Cadia, the The Knights would experience their own "small" Black Crusade as they defended the hive-world of Thesselonia against a Chaos invasion in 999.M41. The Shadowed Ones, coupled with several remnants of mortal chaos forces from Phillipa II and Verdana, attacked the world in the hopes of destroying the sector’s fleet and carving out their own small chaos empire. After deploying a vanguard to the planet and a failed attempt to use a Xenos weapon to incapacitate the defending Knights, This invasion would come to a head after the Knights managed to outsmart the warband and destroy the xeno technology, forcing the traitors to teleport to the world’s surface in frustration, engaging the Chapter in open battle. Chaos Lord Dynat “Crowbane” Mal and Chapter Master Haldon Galfun Would face each other while their respective astartes brethren and mortal soldiers fought in orbit and at various drop sights across the planet. While Master Galfun was eventually defeated by the Chaos Lord, he wounded Dynat grievously, taking off one of his arms and stabbing his combat knife through his stomach. First Company Captain Jegudiel Furel, alongside mortal Commissar Aleksi Maldaror, would then fight the Crowbane as he tried to escape the battle. Despite his weakened state, the Chaos-Lord managed to fight Furel to a standstill, broken only when Commissar Maldaror attacked with his power sword from behind, cutting a deep gash in the Traitor’s knee, allowing the First Captain to strike with his own blade, taking off Dynat’s head.

The Crowbane’s death and subsequent loss of most of the Traitor-Astartes resulted in the collapse of the invasion and total victory for the defending Imperials. Not a day after the battle's end, Jegudiel Furel ascended to Chapter Master. The victory was pyrrhic for the Knights as it saw the death of almost 150 of their brothers, but it garnered them fame and glory across the entire Segmentum. The Triumph was short lived as, later that same year, the fall of Cadia and opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum forced the chapter back into battle across not only the Corribra sector, but the entire Segmentum itself. For the next 10 years, the Chapter extended itself to face a myriad of new threats, mostly against chaos rebellions in the Corribra sector. Their first large victory came in 009 M42 on the world of AT-711, a small industrial world where the remainder of the Shadowed Ones had made camp. Together with the Raven Guard’s Fifth Company, Chapter Master Furel lead the Knight’s First and Third Companies to liberate the planet and destroy the rest of the Traitor forces. The planet was eventually purged of all chaos forces and given the new name of furst-sejr, meaning “first victory” in the native language of Ukkonen. At the time it was believed none of the remaining Shadowed Ones survived the battle for the planet.

In 011 M42, the chapter was reinforced by 100 new Primaris battle brothers sent by resurrected Primarch Robute Guilliman. The Knights, having been given such a gift by a son of the Emperor, felt a religious duty to send a response in kind, and so Chapter Master Furel would dispatch the third and fourth companies to aid in the Indomitus Crusade. Even with this re-enforcement and subsequent massive deployment the Knights did not waiver in their commitment to protect their home sector, as seen in the deployment of yet another 2 companies in 014 M41 to secure the Forge-World of Nahman from an Ork Invasion.

### Ukkonen in Flames (015.M42)

The Knights faced their greatest challenge in 015.M42 when a daemon known as Larzani, posing as an Imperial saint, managed to corrupt the aristocracy and military command of Ukkonen and the neighboring world of Brann. The rebellion began on Brann, with the demon tricking the Knights and their librarians into believing that a warp-rift was being opened on the planet. Chapter Master Furel led three whole companies to Brann, but soon discovered the planet to be a trap, as hundreds of thermonuclear-warheads detonated across the world, seemingly killing him and the entirety of the three companies, while the secretly traitor PDF fleet in orbit overwhelmed and destroyed the 3 strike cruisers the chapter had brought.

The Death of their Chapter Master leads to the ascension of Captain Randan of the First Company to the position. Despite his valiant defense of Ukkonen’s fortress-moon of Kal, corruption within the chapter’s serf-cast caused the destruction of 4 of its remaining strike cruisers, and left the world open to invasion and the impact of several asteroid’s sent towards Ukkonen from Brann. The asteroids’ impact caused widespread destruction, giving the corrupted aristocracy a chance to turn the planet’s populace against the Knights while preaching their supposed blessings from the Emperor. Meanwhile, the escaped daughter of the Planetary Governor, Faila Dalu, and Primaris Marine Corria, using Faila’s newly awakened psychic powers, discovered a plot to open a warp-rift on Ukkonen itself. Seeing this as a priority mission, Randan gave permission to Corria to organize a strike on the Planet’s capital. The planning was cut short, however, when an aerial attack from traitor PDF forces disabled the Fortress Monastery’s shield, allowing the rebel fleet in orbit to begin attacking the castle, killing an additional 98 Marines. With their Fortress Monastery now indefensible, the Knights were forced to abandon the site and engage in guerrilla warfare across the Keskusta mountains. Still committed to disrupt the plan of the traitor aristocrats, Faila and 10 Marines, including Corria, went off to the capital in hopes of using the city's astropathic choir to send a call for aid.

However, before this mission could be completed, the traitors used the blood-sacrifice of captured Space Marine Librarian Ilatan, one of only three survivors from the destruction of Brann, to opened a warp rift that allowed Larzani to manifest in real-space, alongside several hundred Black Legion Traitor Marines, and the last remaining Marine of the Shadowed Ones; Lord Alko Blayica. In his dying breath, the honorable Marine Ilatan manages to destabilize the rift and prevent any new Traitor Marines from coming through the breach, but the daemon still remained. In a show of its power and deceptive intent Larzani then manifests a warp storm that destroys the Brann rebels in orbit, giving even more validity to the claim that the aristocrats were blessed by the Emperor.

Corria, Faila, and the 10 Marines managed to sneak into the capital’s astropathic station, only to find it abandoned. It was soon discovered to be a trap set up by the traitor Astartes, knowing the knights would try and send out a message. Nine of the Marines, except for Corria and another brother, were killed and taken before the daemon.

The daemon, still posing as an imperial saint, was revealed to have captured Lieutenant Kish of the Second Company before Brann's destruction. In a ceremony involving the two Marines and Faila, Larzani attempted to possess the young psycher girl and supplant the strength of all three Marines into a new body, only to be repealed and nearly banished by an unknown outside force. Instead, the Daemon settled to possess Kish, who had been corrupted earlier. As Faila awakened to her true power, she allowed Corria to escape along with his remaining brother. Falia eventually sacrificed herself in a psychic explosion, destroying half of the Chaos Marines, alongside her turned parents, and most of the aristocrats. Larzani, now in possession of Kish and enraged by the foiling of its plans, lead the remaining Marines alongside Lord Alko Trynik to find and exterminate the remaining knights, while the remaining aristocats publicly blame the Knights for the destruction. Unbeknownst to everyone on the planet, Faila had managed to send out a psychic scream through the warp and across the sector.

### Retaking the Homeworld (016.M42)

Ten Months Later, the remaining Knights of Thunder had made a defensive position in the Lähtevä Valley, allying with loyal guard and civilian forces against the Traitors. Soon afterwards, forces from the Knights of Gryphonne, Battle-Sisters from the Order of the Argent Shroud, and the Chapter's own Third and Forth companies arrived in orbit of Ukkonen, securing the loyal holdouts on the moon of Kal. A small expeditionary force of the sisters also discovered that Chapter master Furel still alive on Brann, though badly crippled, after which he is handed off to the Gryphonne. As the sisters, Knights of Gryphonne, and returning Knights of Thunder began their counteroffensive, they linked up with the remaining Knights still holding out in the Lähtevä Valley, destroying nearly 150 attacking Traitor Marines in the process, forcing Alko Blayica, who was leading the assault, to retreat.

The word of the defeat and arrival of a relief force soon spread far and wide across the planet, inspiring many PDF commanders, who had seen through the Daemon's deceit, to rebel and rejoin the loyalist's side.

The Knights of Gryphonne, Knights of Thunder, Battle-Sisters, and loyal PDF forces soon attacked the capital city of the world, leading to the Loyal and Traitor Astartes to meet in battle, while Randan and Corria face the Daemon and Lord Blayica. While at first the battle against the Chaos Lord and Larzani appeared to be a losing one, the arrival of Master Furel, now a dreadnaught, and an additional company of Battle Sisters truned the tide, helping them banish the daemon by destroying Kish’s body, Killing Blayica in the process. What remained of the Chaos Marines begin to flee, the battle lost in every sense of the word.

### Beaten But Not Broken (Present)

While a victory for the Imperium, the Ukkonen Civil War saw the Knights of Thunder devastated like never before, being reduced to only 551 Marines, the lowest number since their inception. The brave Knight Corria also died in the final battle, but not before landing the killing blow against Lord Blayica, removing the threat of the Shadowed Ones for good. The war also saw the deaths of nearly 110 million native Ukkonites, along with an additional 19 million in the months that followed as the remaining rebellions were quelled. Currently, the Knights of Thunder are in a state of recovery, but still committed to defending the Corribra sector, as demonstrated during the Targus Campaign.

Thanks to the actions of Brother Corria during the war, Primaris Marines are now actively welcomed into the chapter, with the Knights hoping to create a 50/50 balance between the Firstborn and the Primaris.

The Chapter is now ruled by both Jegudiel Furel & Hamot Randan as Co-Chapter Masters.

Most recently the Chapter was engaged against the forces of Ork Warboss Tazkal Bashama in the Targus Subsector. After defeating the initial WAAAGH there, the Knights turned back to the southern Corribra Sector as the Warboss seemed to refocus its campaign there.

## Notable Campaigns

**Cleansing of Drachus (779.M41) -** The nights removed and purged several tyranid gene-steeler cults before they could take control of the hive world of Drachus.

**Loki Crusade (891-897.M41) -** Together with various companies from the Knights of Gryphoone, Crimson Fists, and the Ultramarines, the Knights manage to push back Hive Fleet Hydra at the world of Badlanding in the Loki Sector. Over the course of the next 6 years, the force of the Knights and its three allied chapters, coupled with several sector fleets of the Imperial Navy, manage to splinter the fleet and divert it away from key Imperial Systems.

**Cleansing of Bakka (916.M41) -** After several members of the Traitor-Astarte War-Band known as the Shadowed Ones infiltrated the planet’s orbiting shipyards and attempted to sabotage them, The Knights of Thunder manage to liquidate the Traitor forces and prevent permanent damage to the world’s ancient fleet docks. This action would spark a rivalry between the Traitors and the Knights which would last a century.

**Cleansing of the Nosta Nebula (986-988.M41) -** In an effort to stem the flow of refugees and the the spread of Chaos corruption, the Knights of Thunder launched the Nosta Campaign to cleanse the Nosta Nebula of Xeno and Chaos taint. During the two and-a-half year campaign, the Knights managed to reclaim 12 planets from the control of both Tyrannic and Traitor forces. This allowed for the flow of refugees to Ukkonen to be redirected to the worlds of the Nosta Nebula for resettlement.

**Defense of Thesselonia (999.M41) -** The Knights of Thunder, alongside Battlefleet Corribra, manage to defeat an attempted chaos invasion of planet Thesselonia, HQ of the sector’s imperial Navy and Guard forces. Launched by the remnants of the Shadowed Ones Chaos-Astartes warband, alongside remnants of corrupted Guard forces from the Nosta Nebula.

**Liberation of AT-711 (009.M42) -** Together with the Ravenguard’s Fifth Company, Chapter Master Furel lead the Knight’s First Company to Liberate the industrial planet of AT-711 and destroy the Shadowed Ones’ forces on its surface. The planet was eventually purged of all chaos and given the new name of furst-sejr, meaning “first victory” in the native language of Ukkonen.

**Defense of Nahman (Ongoing as of 014.M42) -** The Sixth and Seventh Companies of the Knights of Thunder have been deployed to prevent the fall of forge-world Nahman into Ork hands. After breaking the original Ork invasion force, the Knights continue a vigil on the world against any Ork infestation.

**Indomitus Crusade (011-015.M42) -** The Third and Fourth Companies of the Knights were sent to serve in the Indomitus Crusade under command of Lord Commander Roboute Guilliman, expected to return to Ukkonen in 060 M42. While they were patrolling the Hodur Sector, watching for Tyrannic Incursion, they were called back to their homeworld after being told it had fallen under attack.

**Ukkonite Civil War (015-016.M42) -** After being tricked and corrupted by the daemon Larzani, posing as an imperial saint, rebel aristocrats and PDF leaders on Ukkonen and Brann manage to reduce the chapter to almost half strength. After corrupted serfs render the Fortress-Monastery Castle Myrskymaa indefensible, the remaining knights scatter and conduct guerilla warfare against the corrupted world-leaders. This situation is only worsened when the corrupted aristocrats manage to summon Larzani into realspace, along with 2,000 traitor astartes. The Chapter is eventually saved when Marines from the Knights of Gryphonne Chapter, Sisters of the Argent Shroud, and their own returning crusade forces arrive on the planet and alleviate them. Their arrival sparked a counter revolution against the aristocrats and corrupted PDF forces, culminating in the Battle of Loistava, where the rebel forces and Traitor Marines are defeated and forced off world.

**Targus Campaign (025-027. M42) -** In their first major operation after the Ukkonite civil war, the Knights ally themselves with the Thunder Guardian and Thunderous Sons Chapters to defend the Targus Sub-Sector from an Ork Invasion. The Thunder-kin and their allies are victorious, with the bonds they forged over the two year Campaign leading to the formation of a formal Astarte alliance upon the war's conclusion.

**The Phalios Campaign (033-036 M42) -** The Phalios Campaign was an Imperial military campaign to wrestle back control of the Phalios system, most notibly the major Agri-world of Phalios X, from the raiding forces of the vile Slaugth xenos race. The Campaign began in 033.M41 with the arrival of two companies from the Knights of Thunder and Tidebender Space Marine Chapters, who proceeded to meet with the displaced and retreating system defense forces before beginning the war in earnest. The war began with the cleansing of several small colonies and stations in the outer star system, but reached it climax on the planet of Phalios X, where the Slaugth had enslaved millions of humans and dug in for defense. It would take a full two years of constant siege to finally break the last hold-outs of Slaugth control, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides and the destruction of nearly 75% of the planet's Agri-capabilities.

## Chapter Home World

Ukkonen is one of the most important worlds in the Corribra sector, being the homeworld of the Knights of Thunder Space Marine Chapter, a large trade nexus point, and supporting the industrial and refinery fields of Folin, its second moon. Before the Ukkonite Civil War, the planet had a population of 711.6 Million inhabitants and was ruled by 10 aristocratic houses, assembled in a governing body known as the Liitto-Legislate.

As of 019 M42, however, the planet now rests firmly under the stewardship of the Knights themselves, with what little remains of the aristocratic houses being reduced to nothing but regional governors.

Ukkonen’s climate can be described as intermittently extreme. With most of the Planet’s land mass gathered in the northern hemisphere, it is during the southern summer, when the planet’s orbit brings it closer to its star and the Hallitsematon warms, that the worst of the planet’s storms arise. Fueled by the endless blue expanse of the southern oceans water, hot temperatures, and increased ocean and wind circulation, hyper-cyclones have been known to rage for weeks or sometimes months on end. This period, known as the Molnåldern, lasts for roughly 7 months, after which the southern ocean begins to cool as the world’s orbital path takes it farther from the star and its tilt facing the southern hemisphere enters winter. It is during this time that the northern hemisphere experiences summer and another type of storm; large blizzards fueled by the residual heat and energy from the summer that blast in from the mountains, freezing the landscapes and covering Pohjoin and Ulosila almost entirely in white snow. Due to this strange seasonal cycle, many land plants have evolved and been cultivated to resist freezing temperatures, with many bearing their fruit as winter ends. Most of the crops grown in the southern hemisphere are ocean based, shielded by the storms due to growing mostly underwater.

### Fortress-Monastery

Castle Myrskymaa, a massive fortress in the Myrskymaa Mountain range of Ukkonen's main continet, serves as the Chapter's main base of operations and training ground. For more than a century, the Castle has hosted the Knights, having grown in both size and importance. The castle also serves as the religious center of Ukkonen's Imperial cult, as within its sacred and fortified halls sits hundreds of ancient and revered relics of bygone eras. Despite its remoteness, the Castle still is host to a human population of nearly 20,000 people, with most living on the snowy slopes outside the fortress itself.

Access to the Castle's basement, however, is restricted to all except the Knights of Thunder themselves. Within these lower levels sits an almost heretical church, one dedicated to the Traitor Primarchs instead of any saint or hero of the Imperium. This Church, however, is not a place of prayer, but where the Knights come before battle with the forces of Chaos. Here, the Thunder-Kin recite vows of loyalty and faith before having their armor marked in warding sigils, while also using the space to dispense hatred and curses at the carved faces of the Emperor's traitorous sons.

## Chapter Organisation

Though originally planned to be a *Codex Astartes*-compliant Chapter fleet-based chapter, the Knights of Thunder follow much the same organization as the Black Templars, but have shed their fleet based status in favor of occupying a homeworld. The Chapter makes use of the standard company organization, with the knight’s divided into 10 companies of 100 marines each. Each company is divided into 10 squads, with the command squad typically holding only 8 members instead of the usually 10.

Recently, the Chapter has adopted a dual Chapter-Master model. While the first master is responsible for the management of the Chapter’s home-world, recruitment, and defense of worlds near to their space, the second master is responsible for far-flung offensive actions and crusades against enemies.
Crusading forces tend to be comprised of the Second Chapter Master and the first three companies of the chapter and their captains. This quadrumvirate of the The Second Master and the thee captains are called the Crusade-Lords, leading the chapter into battle across the Segmentum.

### The Ten Companies

Each Company within the Knights of Thunder holds a special function, deployed in situations that fit their specialty and talents. While the first company is typically always deployed during large scale crusades, it tends to take one of two others along for support, never using the same two companies in a row.

1. **First Company (The Thunder Swords):** Comprised of the chapter's most elite and battle-tested warriors, the First Company, or Thunder Swords, serve as the primary command force within the chapter. They advise the Chapter Master's, lead crusades, direct the lower companies, and typically always make planet fall first in every engagement. The Second Master and First Captain both command the company together, with the command squad serving as the honor guard for the Chapter Masters.
2. **Second Company (The Storm Tongues):** Given the chapter's highly religious nature, it comes as no surprise that the Chaplaincy is highly revered within Knights of Thunder, so much so that an entire company is dedicated to the training of new chaplains and the maintenance of the Reclusium. The Second Company has many duties, some of but not limited to; the maintenance and preservation of the chapter's holy relics, The propagation of the Knight's cult of beliefs to new recruits, the building of churches and holy sights on Ukkonen, and so on. It should be noted that only 10 to 15 true chaplains exist in the company at any given time, with all other members being Reclusium initiate marines. Such disparity is due to the strict nature of the companies hierarchy, with brothers in training only able to ascend to the position of Chaplain after many years of study.
3. **Third Company (The Proud Bolts):** The Third company sits as the masters of the Knight's arsenal, helping repair and replenish damaged and depleted war-gear. The Proud Bolts get their name due to the insistence to attack enemy positions using drop pods at all chances possible, as they wish to drop like prideful thunder bolts onto their foes.
4. **Fourth Company (The Storm Heralds):** The Storm Heralds specialize in information gathering and espionage, having hired and recruited several thousand mortal spies across the Corribra Sector and the greater Segmentum. This network allows the Fourth Company and the Knights a level of preparedness unseen in many other chapters, allowing the Thunder-kin to identify, plan, and subdue any alien or heretical threats as soon as they emerge. They play a vital role in the Chapter's wars against mortal threats, being heralds of battle.
5. **Fifth Company (The Tempest  Tears):** The Fifth Company serves as the commanders and upper crews of the Chapter's fleet. Their members also tend to train the and form the larger majority of the Chapter's Tech-Marines.
6. **Sixth Company (The Storm Watchers):** The Storm Watchers form the Psychic branch of the Chapter's forces. While only around 30 Librarians exist in the company, each serving the other 10 companies, the rest of their number work with the Reclisum in discovering, refining and implementing anti-daemonic rituals, pychic protection training, and exorcism when needed. The Chief Librarian, who also serves as the Company's captain, always has an eye on the warp, alerting the Chapter of any incoming Chaos-related threats.
7. **Seventh Company (The Shields of Ukkonen):** The Seventh Company serves as the chapter's home guard, defending the Chapter's Homeworld and Fortress-Monastery. They also lend a hand in training the Ukkonen Enlisted, the planet's local PDF.
8. **Eighth Company (The Bloody Spears):** The Bloody spears specialize in Astarte-on-Astarte combat, trained to face renegade or traitor Space-Marine chapters or warbands. They make liberal use of spear weaponry, earning them their names.
9. **Ninth Company (The Storm Breakers):** The Ninth Company specializes in planet and city siege warfare. They are known for wearing all grey armor, save their left arms which bear the chapter's colors.
10. **Tenth Company (The Waking Storms):** The Tenth Company is dedicated to the recruitment and training of new recruits and neophytes.

### Special Ranks

Like many other chapters, the Knights of Thunder have established specialist ranks within certain companies for specific duties, each with a district designation:

* **Grand Rauta**: The Forge-Master of the chapter, usually also serves as captain of the Third Company.
* **Banner Bailiff**: Special position within the Second Company responsible for maintaining the battle-banners and ornamental decorations of the various companies and squads within the chapter.
* **Myrsky's Eye**: The Chief Librarian of the chapter, charged with always keeping an eye on the warp to watch for incoming threats.

## Combat Doctrine

Upon their inception the Knights of Thunder were in every sense a dedicated anti-xenos mobile strike force, able to move from world to world quickly to dispense their justice upon the alien enemies of man. They are extremely effective at organizing and reorganizing while in combat, and when on the defensive they make expert use of guerilla style warfare.

The Chapter maintained this status for 150 years, but since the acquisition of the planet Ukkonen as their first homeworld, the chapter has switched to focus more on defensive and short range offensive strategies, though they still retain their strike force abilities.

When on the offensive, the chapter makes generous use of their jump-packs to strike deep into enemy formations and disrupt front line units of their foe. They also use specialized energy launchers as short-range projectile weaponry. These energy launchers, usually in the form of a forearm mounted device, allow the user to generate a ball of concentrated disruptive energy which can be launched. The device’s accuracy decreases drastically with range, and has the tendency to explode if overcharged, so the use of energy launchers is reserved for only the most serious and dire battle situations

Having been on Ukkonen for the better part of 100 years, aspirants harvested from the planet’s local population have brought many traditions and tools from their childhood into the chapter’s use. Most notably of these additions is that of the battle-spears. Popular tools used by young children to fish in tide-pools, spear’s have become the favored melee weapon of many of the chapter’s younger members and even some of its primaris founders. Such spears can be modified in many ways, such as the implementation of projectile launch systems, disruptive energy generators, and even explosive tips. The Hehkuva’luu, supposedly carved from the rib-bone of a great sea-monster which once inhabited Ukkonen's oceans, is the chapter’s move revered item, representing the connection between the chapter and its homeworld. Gifted to them upon their arrival on the planet, the Hehkuva’luu is said to be under special guard, only able to be wielded by the Chapter-Master when the time comes to defend Ukkonen itself from an enemy force.

## Chapter Culture & Beliefs

Given their connections to the Black Templars, The Knights of Thunder are a deeply religious chapter, considering the Emperor a God, while the Primarchs are regarded as angels of divine might, once sent, and now again, to spread his word. This "Divine Truth of the Emperor" has only grown since their arrival on Ukkonen, where the Knights have constructed several temples in honor of the Primarchs and Emperor across the planet, serving as places of worship for both the chapter and the world’s populace.

Strangely enough, the Knights have also built a temple to the Traitor Primarchs, albeit as a place to dispense hatred and curses on the enemies of man instead of places of reverence or holy nature. This temple is a closely guarded secret from the public and Imperium at large, kept as a special place for members of the Chapter only. Before battle with the forces of the ruinous powers, The Knights of Thunder will assemble in this temple, below their main church of the Emperor, where their reclusiarchs will give each Traitor Primarch a specially crafted curse and promise to see their troops defeated in battle.

The Thunder-kin have also adopted many of Ukkonen’s native traditions, such as The Torden-Sail, into their chapter’s trials. The Torden-Sail is an annual celebration, done during the start of the planet’s northern fishing season, which involves the crossing of the Torden Sea, a particularly dangerous and turbulent stretch of water between the continents of Oroncal and Ulosila, in nothing but a wooden boat. While the people of the planet have perfect the crossing of the sea to guarantee almost 100% survival every year, aspirants of the Knights must construct their own seaworthy vessel and make the crossing on their own.

When a pool of aspirants becomes a recruits, the Knights of Thunder tend to hold a small feast in their honor and give prayers of good tidings for their future trials. A similar feast happens when a recruit become a full Battle-Brother. Such feasts are typically filled with the many culinary fish-based delights of Ukkonen.

## Notable Members

* **Chapter Master Haldon Galfun -** Haldon Galfun was the first Chapter Master of the Knights of Thunder, serving for over 250 years. His service oversaw the initial great glories of the chapter against the Tyranids, and its eventual transition from a fleet-based chapter to a planet-based one. While initially of the belief that the Tyranids were the greatest threat to the modern Imperium, the growing threat of Chaos caused him to shift perspectives and face the Arch-Enemy and the Great Devourer both equally at every possible opportunity. He finally met his end at the Defense of Thesselonia against the Shadowed Ones in 999 M41.

* **Chapter Master (First Master) Jegudiel “Oldblade” Furel -** Jegudiel Furel is the Chapter second and current First Chapter Master of the Knights of Thunder. Despite having only severed 15 years in the position, Furel has fearlessly led his Chapter into victory after victory against Traitor-Chaos forces at least a half dozen times, most notably at the Liberation of AT-711 and during the Ukkonite Civil War. After being grievously wounded during the Battle of Brann in 015 M42, Furel has been entombed within a dreadnought and split his duties as Chapter Master with former Captain Hamot Randan of the First Company, ruling as First & Second Master’s of the Chapter

* **Reclusiarch Joakem Broudén** : Current Captain of the Second Company and the Chief Chaplain of the Knights of Thunder. He is best known for the song compositions he creates in memorial of the Chapter's greatest victories.

* **Chapter Master (Second Master) Hamot Randan -** After the apparent death of Master Furel at the Battle of Brann, Captain Randan of the First Company would lead the Chapter during the darkest hours of the Ukkonite Civil War when the Knight’s numbers on Ukkonen were reduced to less than 250 brothers and their Fortress Monastery was occupied. After spending 10 months directing a guerilla campaign on the world, he would be reinforced by a trio of allied forces. He, alongside Furel, managed to banish the daemon Larzani during the final battle of the war. He currently serves as the Second Master of the Chapter.

* **Brother Kas “Shadow-feller” Corria -** First gifted to the Chapter as part of the unnumbered sons form the Indomitus Crusade in 011 M42, Corria and his other Primaris Brother’s were seen as outsiders for much of their initial years with the Knights of Thunder. His actions during the Ukkonite Civil War, however, changed the chapter’s view on their Ultima Founding brethren. Corria proved indispensable to the chapter during the war, as his actions enabled awakened psycher Faila Dalu. She would go on to destroy much of the planet’s traitorous aristocracy, while also denying the daemon Larzani from gaining its full strength and alert the greater sector of the attack upon the Knight’s homeworld. Brother Corria would die during the final battle of the war, but not before killing Lord Blayica, last Marine of the Shadow Ones.

* **Brother Safar "Sharp-Edge” Harjula** **-** Brother Harjula is a relatively young marine, of only 48 standard years. As of 999 M41 he is currently serving in the ranks of the Deathwatch. His tenure in the chapter is expected to last two decades at the least.

## Chapter Fleet

The Knights of Thunder command a fairly substantial fleet of Imperial vessels which they use in operations ranging from simple transportation of their brothers, void battles, to large scale troop deployments. Currently, the chapter commands three Battle Barges which form the very for-front of their naval power. These Barges, called the *Tempest's Call* (The chapter flag ship), *High Vigilance*, and the *Emperor's Thunder*, are all passed down from the Black Templars, who helped the Knights build their arsenal upon their inception.

The chapter also commands three Strike Cruisers, four Vanguard Class Light Cruisers, and twelve Gladius Frigates. Originally the chapter commanded 10 strike cruisers, but seven of them were destroyed during the Ukkonite civil war. Currently the chapter is working on rebuilding these vessels.

## Chapter Relics

Besides the Hehkuva’luu spear, the chapter is also in possession of several older imperial relics, some dating back as far as the Horus Heresy.

The Gladius Frigate known as the *Stormwrath* is believed to be nearly ten-thousand years old, in chronological terms, having been built during the Great Crusade and served in the Imperial Fists Legion. It is believed the ship was lost in the warp, along with all hands, sometime during the first century of the 31st millennium and had remained missing since. However, in 972.M41, the ship was re-discovered floating in the outskirts of the Arcaddo system, seemingly "burped" out by the warp. Upon investigation by the Knights of Thunder, it was found the ship had only experienced seventy years of the ten-millennia it had been lost. Despite this, the ship appeared abandoned. The platoon of Imperial first that should have been onboard seemingly vanished, leaving only a simple message on one of the walls of the vessel:

"*We fought for Dorn.*"
— Unknown
The ship was later recovered, repaired, and now serves in the chapter's expeditionary fleet.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Knights of Thunder primarily wear silvery-azure colored power armor with portions of it painted white, including the backpack vents, helmet, belt and poleyns (knee guards). The Aquila or Imperialis icon affixed to the plastron (chest guard) is also white in colouration. The insets of their shoulder pauldrons as well as a vertical stripe painted on their helmets are midnight-blue.

The chapter badge is prominently displayed upon their left inset while the squad specialty symbol (Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command) displayed upon the opposite inset, indicating a battle-brother's specialty. A small white roman numeral and/or company symbol is displayed upon the right inset, indicating company assignment, while a much larger black colored roman numeral displayed upon the left knee-cap indicates squad number assignment.

The vertical stripe down the middle of their helms serves as a distinction between standard battle brothers and higher ranks, with all command positions at and higher than sergeant lacking this stripe.

### Chapter Badge

The Knights of Thunder's Chapter badge takes the form of a stylized capital letter 'T', the bottom portion of the letter taking the form of a lightning bolt.

## Relations

### Allies

The Knights of thunder hold a special, informal alliance with the sisters of the Order of the Argent Shroud and the Knights of Gryphonne, who have not only aided the chapter in battle many times in the past, but helped retake its homeworld during the Ukkonite Civil War.

As of 027 M42, After the Targus Campaign, the Knights Of Thunder, along with the Thunder Guardians and Thunderous Sons Chapters, have entered into a formal alliance, Know as the Storm-Wall Alliance, in an effort to create a more coordinated defense of the Segmentum Tempestus.

### Enemies

While historically the chapter's greatest enemies have been the Tyranids and Shadowed Ones Traitor Astartes, the extinction of the former and growing threat of other xenos races in the wider segmentum has prompted the Knights of Thunder to diversify the enemies they are willing to deal with. Most recently, the chapter has designated the destruction of the Ork-Tazkal WAAAGH in the southern Corribra Sector as top priority.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Knights of Thunder

"*We are The Emperor’s Thunder. When we strike, we are only known after our enemy is long gone and dead*"
—Chapter Master Haldon Galfun
"*Ten-thousand years of experience means nothing without discipline, heretic. Now get over here! I can't take off your head if you stand so far away!"* "
—Battle Brother Kal Corria
"*Some call us weak, some dare to even call us traitors, as if our faith is lacking. Our faith is not weak, we simply execute our duty in a way that many of our brother chapters would not agree with. A hundred-thousand dead Guardsmen in the reconquest of a world, to the Ultramines for instance, would be seen as acceptable casualties. I see it as nothing short of a terrible loss. Like us, humans are beloved by the God-Emperor, and as his angels it is our charge to defend them with as much zeal as we dispatch the Throne's enemies.* "
—Chapter Master Jegudiel Furel
### On the Knights of Thunder

"*Now this is an interesting one. The Knights of Thunder, one of the Hammers of Dorn or more specifically his unrelenting rage. Though unlike the zealous Black Templars the Knights are more reasonable and harmonious, whereas their brothers would treat humanity as a whole with suspicion and animosity they embrace and treat them like family. Something that would be seen as naïve and foolish amongst other chapters. The Ukkonite Civil War in the eyes of the Black Templars would've been a huge justification for their brutal methods on suspected heretical worlds, but instead half of the populous remained loyal to the Knights of Thunder because of the chapter's faith in humanity. There is the saying that 'Rogal Dorn is thunder incarnate', and the Knights of Thunder would do their genefather proud.*"
—Chronicler Isarious on the Knights of Thunder
### Trivia

I can not take full credit for the idea of this chapter. The original name, design/coloring, and many of the Chapter's cultural aspects came from a chat-page on The **Bolter and Chainsword** website, specifically this one. Given that many of these posts are nearing a decade in age I doubt many of these fellow war-hammer enthusiasts are still active, but if any are I hope when they find this page they can take pride in the fact they inspired me to not only deepen my passion for this beautifully grim-dark universe, but also join a community of so many like-minded individuals. Thank you.

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 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Iron Hands Successors
 Ultramarines Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Unknown Lineage

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