Dread Knights

Armorial of the Dread Knights with Chapter iconography.

A Dread Knight Brother-Knight of the 4th Company, 2nd Battleline Squad.

### **Specialty**

Punitive Actions, Decimation, Rebellion Extermination, Sector-wide Annihilation, Search and Destroy, Information Gathering and Fallen Hunting

### **Colours**

Black torso, arms and legs, crimson helmet, silver pauldrons and crimson insets.

### Successor Chapter(s)

N/A

Among the ranks of the Unforgiven no chapter is regarded with more wariness and uncertainty than the **Dread Knights**. Born during the
21st 'Cursed' Founding from the gene-seed of Lion El'Jonson, this chapter of Adeptus Astartes is renowned for the excessive zeal and murderousness in their persecution of the Imperium's foes which, while it has given them many victories and much acclaim with those less aware of the almost religious way they engage in their brutally torturous wars has managed to garner the Knights of Payens a fell reputation. To many of the scions of the Lion the Dread Knights are considered to be a rabid hunting animal or a blunt instrument, unleashed by Lord Azrael when word of a potential member of the Fallen reaches their ears, for when they are set upon the trail of one of the hated Angels the brother-templars of the Dread Knights are unrelenting, willing to rampage through entire systems to find and capture even a single one of their traitorous kin.

## Chapter History

Created during the dark days of the Age of Apostasy, the Dread Knights are something of a reflection of the mad high lord Goge Vandire; completely consumed with a psychotic zeal and utter convinced of the rightness of their cause, the Dread Knights have a truly carnage-stricken history (albeit one that cannot be definitively attached to them thanks to the machinations of the Unforgiven and indeed the age they sprung from). The first mention of these insane marines comes from what may very well be Goge Vandire's only recorded moment of decency and clarity; as Ecclesiarchy delegation sent to make contact with an up-and-coming crew of corsairs offering a Warrant of Trade to make them rogue traders under the High Lord's auspis. When they arrived what they found was a brutal space battle (though slaughter may be a more accurate term) with the corsairs being attacked by a Dread Knight fleet led by the chapter's flagship, the terrible Burnt Martyr. Even to the servants of the Age of Apostasy's architect the sheer level of cruel butchery unleashed by the marines was horrifying, quickly escaping and reporting what they had witnessed they, and a force of Frateris Templars returned and, rather stupidly demanded that the astartes they had seen unleash fury beyond sanity on simple corsairs marshal the rest of their chapter and return to the Throneworld and explain themselves to 'the one who spoke with the God-Emperor's voice' to say the Dread Knights were somewhat put out that someone other than the God-Emperor himself, their Primarch or the current ruler of the Dark Angels was attempting to bring them to heel would be to completely and utter understate the unbridled acrimony of the rulers of Cappadocian (their original homeworld having yet to be destroyed) Several weeks later, after the rather sane demand of Vandire had long since slipped from the demented mind of the ecclesiarch and was only remembered by his most devoted and fearful sycophants a single ship from the response fleet exited the warp into the orbit of Ophelia VII (a key world of the Adeptus Ministorum) when boarded by suspicious Frateris Templars the ship was discovered to have been rendered into little more than a slaughterhouse, every surface was plastered with the mangled remains of the zealots that had foolishly thought to bring the Dread Knights to heel, with the leader of the deployed templars found in his command chair, the word 'No' carved carved into his stomach with a grisly skill and elegance. The Dread Knight's response was clear. Though the terrified Ministorum kept this barbaric display away from the deranged leader of the Administratum and Ministorum, fearful of what should happen if he made a chapter of the Adeptus Astartes his foe and perhaps brought the full fury of the space marines as an institution down on their heads the Dread Knights themselves played little part in the overthrow of Goge Vandire, instead staying to their own hidden purposes (many believe that the Age of Apostasy was a section of the Unforgiven's history where Fallen were captured in astounding numbers).

After this, like so much of the Unforgiven’s history and actions, the Dread Knights, though present and known once again become mired in the shadows of misdirection and secrecy. However, perhaps the greatest event in the Chapter’s history, a pivotal event in their story, could not be fully hidden; the destruction of their first homeworld of Cappadocian by their cousin Chapter and hated rival, the Lion Blades.

### Era Indomitus

The return of Roboute Guilliman and the coming of the Primaris Marines was not well received by the Knights of Payens. Like the rest of the Unforgiven, the Dread Knights' feared Cawl's new breed of Astartes were an attempt to curb the sons of Lion and reveal their secrets. However, unlike other Chapters, bizarrely, the Dread Knights took the Greyshields without complaint or anger accepting them from the Custodes with nary a voice raised.

Where the other Unforgiven were suspicious of the Primaris as institution, the Dread Knights, after analysing the technology used to create them, saw the merit in their existence. Whilst the Greyshields were hated and repeatedly held to monstrously high standards, even whilst repeatedly mind-wiping them and hiding secrets from them. Ashkelon's methods soon became clear; this was little more than a brutal weapons test. Soon after, Ashkelon brought the

#### Return of the Lion

"*Payens. That name brings the sour taste of bile to my throat. Since leaving that dark world my nights have been haunted. I see Konrad in the skin of my sons. Numberless eyes eager for my command, to vent their malice by my will. Implicitly I understand, I know; this is the considered cruelty of an adoring zealot, not the wilful violence of an nihilistic butcher. I see in their loving faces the evil I could commit with but a word…and though I know no fear…that knowledge scares me.*"
—Lion El'Jonson
## Chapter Homeworld

Payens, much like their former homeworld of Cappadocian is a feudal world of warring kingdoms and knightly orders, the worship of the Emperor of Mankind is the largest factor in the Dread Knight's choosing of this world as their new homeworld. Unlike most planets where the Astartes are either noble lords or distant angels, on Payens the Dread Knights are viewed with a mixture of fear and awe. For, whilst the feudal politicking of Payens is cutthroat and destructive, there exists but one constant: "The Dread Knights will have their payment." Providing recruits to the Knights of Payens is paramount to the nobles of the planet as the Dread Knights have a history,(if wars of internal bickering has decimated the population) of annihilating the current ruling nobles if they are not provided with fresh recruits, a fact that leaves the world's nominal rulers (disregarding the Dread Knights) cowering in fear in the shadow of the Halls of Forgiveness. This fear, and method of responding, is what led to House Laracask to offer up the heir to the family as tribute to the Dread Knights, the boy would later go on to become the current Lord-Paladin of the Chapter.

### Chapter Recruitment

During Payen's great festival where villagers, soldiers, priests and even the lords of the land join together in joyous (if somewhat melancholy) celebration of the God-Emperor, each mortal begs for his glorious return, to awaken his most beloved son; the Great Lion-Knight. During these celebrations tournaments are held, the mightiest warriors gather from all over the entire planet to compete, the great duels and tests of skill winnow the strong from the weak, the cunning from the lackwits and the honourable from the conniving.

Upon the completion of this great tournament the champions are sent to the Mountain of Angels, where lies the Halls of Forgiveness; fortress-monastery of the Dread Knights. Those who make it to the mighty fortress are greeted by the grim, imposing figure of an interrogator-chaplain who, upon taking the measure of those who made the climb will task them with a sacred mission, without congratulation or acknowledgement of their impressive deed. These potential brothers are tasked to slay one of the great beasts that roam the dark forests or lurk in the world's mountains then return with the beast's head to prove each has succeeded, once they present an indicator of their triumph, they must explain why the achievement was of benefit to the Dread Knights and why this has earned them the privilege of attempting to become one of the Knights of Payens; some are easily explained for example the once 1st Brother-Paladin Yilanli managed the astonishing feat of slaying one of the great manticores that lurk in the deepest, darkest mountains of Payens. Such an amazing achievement needed little explaining, whereas, the current Lord-Paladin Ashkelon, managed the seemingly unimpressive slaying of a pack of barghests that had preyed on the town at the base of the Mountain of Angels. When interrogated by the Brother-Redeemer about this seemingly unimpressive feat when compared Yilanli's own stunning trophy, the young Ashkelon responded that the grave hounds were preying on potential aspirants of the Dread Knights, meaning they were a direct vexation for the Knights of Payens' purposes.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Scourging of the Pain Harvester (676.M41)** - During M41, the foul amalgam of starships and artificial debris the Space Hulk known as the Pain Harvester was vomited forth from the depths of the Warp, into the space of the Ayyun System.
* **The Isaren Massacre (711.M41) -** As with countless incidents in their darkness-clad history, the Isaren Massacre is an event mired in blood and secrecy. Officially it is known to have started when Hive Primus of the planet Isaren was rocked by a massive hivequake which nearly caused the total collapse of the monolithic city-structure. As, on countless levels, the artificial ground and sky that had imprisoned them their whole lives split asunder, vast horde of Chaos cultists, who had managed to remain hidden amongst the filth and shadows of Isaren's depths,

## Chapter Organisation

### Officer Ranks

* **Brother-Paladin** - The Captains of the Dread Knights are known as Brother-Paladins.
	+ **Lord-Paladin** - The Chapter Master of the Dread Knights. Also known as the Dreadbringer given the Dread Knights serve as the current incarnation of the Dreadwing for the Unforgiven.
* **Brother-Redeemer** - Even amongst the ranks of the Dread Knights those known as Redeemers are truly psychotic, as the equivalent of an Interrogator-Chaplain these masters of torture are in charge of brutally prying out a confession and all secrets from captured Fallen. Vicious in the extreme Redeemers drive their brethren into apoplectic fits of rage with their demented proclamations, rare is the Fallen Angel that survives the Redeemer's attentions with their sanity intact. The current head of the chaplaincy is known as the Lord-Redeemer, a rank currently held by unstably zealous Dacian Aurea.
* **Brother-Seer** - The Librarians of the Chapter, the Brother-Seers are masters of the invasive Interromancy.
* **Brother-Artificer** - As with other members of the Unforgiven, Brother-Artificers are distrusted for their perceived split loyalty; between the Chapter and Mars. Like so many other things, the distrust Techmarines suffer from the Dread Knights is worse than their cousin-chapters; for the Brother-Artificers, it is made clear that were there a way for the Knights of Payens to maintain their armoury, they would. Openly disliked for their perceived 'disloyalty' (despite its necessity) by the majority of the Dread Knights, the *Frater Astrotechnicus* of the Chapter are a sour, albeit loyal brotherhood. Ironically, under Ashkelon's (the current Lord-Paladin) lordship the fortunes of the Brother-Artificers have improved; where there was an active and vocal dislike for their techmarines, Ashkelon has accepted their necessity and is merely neglectful, ignoring them unless required.
* **Brother-Healer** - The Apothecaries. Brother-Healers are trusted with maintaining the purity of the Dread Knights.

### Specialist Ranks

* **Brother-Templar**- Brother-Templars are the most veteran warriors of the Dread Knights, their very own Deathwing, however; unlike the Deathwing of other Unforgiven Chapters the Brother-Templars are not all equipped with Terminator Armour due to the Chapter civil war instigated by Brother-Paladin Yilanli; the 1st captain of the Dread Knights and lord of the Deathwing. Now, as they recover, the Order of Payens are currently left with twenty suits of Indomitus armour.
* **Brother-Crusader**- The Brother-Crusaders are the Ravenwing of the warriors of Payens.
* **Brother-Interemptors**- The Marines who call themselves Brother-Interemptors are, to other Imperial institutions, a sinister and horrific force. They are a nightmarish echo of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy that even Supreme Grand Master Azrael is wary of sanctioning. As with so many institutions in the Unforgiven (the Dread Knights especially) the Brother-Interemptors are a secret within a secret; much like the terrifying guardians of the Lord-Paladin, the Medraut Brotherhood, they are a shadowed force within the already darkness-veiled Deathwing of the Knights of Payens, allowed access to the most horrific weapons available to any beyond the highest of the Chapter's inner circle, it rumoured amongst those that know of its existence, the Lord-Interemptors of the Chapter even have access to first repository of the Dreadwing's Vaults.

### Specialist Formations

* **Medraut Brotherhood**- The Medraut Brotherhood are a terrifying force, working almost in perfect unison, each one wielding a strange pattern of power sword and a storm shield and clad in power armour that makes them indistinguishable from each other, the Brother-Guardians of the Medraut Brotherhood are a true manifestation of the Dread Knight's dark malevolence. None save the current Lord-Paladin of the Dread Knights truly know who the members of these sinister honour guard for they are stricken from any records when they are chosen and must take oaths of silence and are only allowed to speak by leave of the Lord-Paladin and even then, the regal, knightly helms they bear turn their every utterance into a harsh, vicious drone. It is whispered that being selected to join the ranks of this dark gathering is more akin to death than promotion to a position of honour, it is rumoured that more than just oaths of silence, the members of the Medraut Brotherhood had their minds stripped away by horrific psycho-surgery and indoctrination, leaving behind virtual automata with only the learned experiences and honed instincts of the individual battle-brother as the single defining feature.

* **Gladius-Class Kratos** - Like so much of the Dread Knights' history and inner workings, the Gladius-Class Kratos is an ill-understood rumour. To those few savants of the dark orders that made up the 1st Legion during the Unification Wars, it is believed that the most fearful of the Hexagrammaton; the Dreadwing, known on Terra as the Host of Bone made use of this fearful engine. Riding forth, the Gladius brought horrific ruin to the ancient battlegrounds of Terra, reducing all who stood before the Emperor's dream into little more than charnel-sludge with every smothering blast from its main weapon; the nightmarish Hadal Arquebus. Vomiting forth great waves of evil and depthless darkness that reduced anything could in the horrible waves of shadow to liquid viscera. The monstrous effects of the weapon and the unnerving after effects, that somehow, the weapon is based on the strange and mysterious Umbra xenos. If such a thing were true the sheer heretical ramifications are immense. However, given the sheer mystery surrounding the Gladius and the Dread Knights' own uncommunicative nature, the truth of the Gladius' existence will forever remain apocryphal, one of the countless horrific secrets of Old Terra.

### Line Ranks

* **Brother-Knight**- A Brother-Knight is the title of the Dread Knight's line ranks, irrespective of their role, be it devastator, tactical or assault marines, the only indicator being the weapons they bore and the icon on their shoulder. The sergeants of these marines are known as Lord-Knights. A brutal and zealous caste of leaders these marines also act as something akin to a standard chaplain; inspiring their battle-brothers to new heights of violence and rage.
* **Brother-Squire**- A Brother-Squire is the Dread Knight's title for the Scout Marines.

### Chapter Command

#### Companies

The Dread Knights, much like their progenitors in the Unforgiven, roughly follow the edicts of the Codex Astartes. However, like their brethren, instead of the 1st and 2nd Companies, the Dread Knights have the formations of the Deathwing and Ravenwing. They also similarly have the inner circle council. Interestingly, much like Dark Angels Legion of old, the Dread Knights effectively have brotherhoods within brotherhoods, secrets within secrets; in the Brother-Templars of their Deathwing alone there are two known gatherings the Brother-Interemptors and the Medraut Brotherhood.

## Gene-Seed

Like all gene-seed of the disciples of Caliban the Dread Knight's show no signs of physical mutation and the usual purity of all Dark Angels descendants. Mentally however the sons of Payens do not appear to have escaped the apparent curse of their founding. Accusations of wanton slaughter and seemingly random carnage have long dogged the Dread Knights, the sheer brutality and almost sadistic mindsets having caused many in the Inquisiton and indeed within the ranks of the Adeptus Astartes to call of their liquidation. Much to the chagrin of those calling for the chapter's destruction evidence (no matter how flimsy) always manages to be found that vindicates the Dread Knights, many believe that the Unforgiven supply the chapter with the items to obfuscate their demented savagery. Even outside of battle those interacting with battle-brothers of the Knights frequently report their Astartes show a propensity towards hateful paranoia and excessive willingness to go beyond what even chapters such as the Iron Hands consider appropriate force.

## Combat Doctrine

"*Show yourself traitor, before your lair becomes a charnel house!*"
— Anonymous Dread Knights Brother Templar.
The Dread Knights are a Chapter infamous for their brutality and violence, much like the Flesh Tearers and Minotaurs. Unlike both these Chapters, the Dread Knights are not mindless rampagers, they execute their wars with vicious sadism, often appearing at random to destroy cults or prosecute full purges.

Due to their mysterious armoury, the Dread Knights have been seen wielding more archaic, devastating weaponry and, though only occasionally if serving alongside those not of the Dark Angel's bloodline; weapons of an alien origin. Such reports have been dismissed as little more than slander, especially given the Dread Knights' own vile reputation.

Due to the sheer terror their cruelty and viciousness inspires the Dread Knights are incredibly skilled at information gathering, often interrogating their victims on 'remarkable individuals' who may aid them.

## Chapter Beliefs

For the Dread Knights, there is nothing but loyalty to the legacy of Lion El'Jonson and the hunt for the Fallen. While they are almost slavishly faithful to their progenitors; the Dark Angels, that same respect is not necessarily extended to their fellow successors. To many others the Dread Knights appear more akin to a Chapter of arrogant medieval nobles. The most notable part of the Knights of Payens' culture is the fact that they see themselves as the Dreadwing reborn, a concept shared in part by the dementedly zealous Asmodai. This belief makes the Dread Knight's apparent sadism and brutality a useful tool in their arsenal in spreading fear and punishing traitors in the name of the God-Emperor and 'the Lion Knight'. Where the Techmarines of the Unforgiven are distrusted due to their split loyalty, the Techmarines of the Dread Knights are actively hated and estranged from the rest of their Chapter for this perceived lack of fidelity. Despite this, because of the Chapter's stewardship of the dark, evil depths of the Dreadwing Vaults, the Techmarines of the Chapter are astoundingly important. However, like countless other members of the Dread Knights, those taught the ways of the Cult Mechanicus have been heavily mentally conditioned beyond even the norm of Astartes. It is believed that, as with the other members of the Chapter, with the correct sequence of words from the Lord-Paladin, those selected may use and maintain the dark items of the Dreadwing Vaults.

### Great Purges

Unlike other Astartes Chapters, the Dread Knights do not seem to hold their homeworld as anything other than a source of able-bodied recruits. Beyond taking aspirants, the Dread Knights have little to no interaction with their homeworld, even during the Astartes trials given directly by the Dread Knights, the hopefuls are sworn to secrecy, with no mentions allowed of the Angel Knights of Payens. Even those that fail the trials are unable to ever speak of their experiences; either killed by the Astartes or enslaved as Chapter Serfs. So little do they care about Payens as a world, their existence has once been discredited by the greatest thinkers of Payens. During that time, none sent recruits during the expected time. Upon receiving no recruits, the Dread Knights' made their existence known; they descended from the Mountain of Angels, sadistically butchering every single member of Payens' noble houses before replacing them with a new aristocratic class, drawn from randomly selected peasants. The Dread Knights' message was clear. The people of Payens existed only by the pleasure of the brutal Astartes, they cared for little beyond the flesh offered to them as recruits. Such a bloody interaction with the people of Payens has only happened twice in the world's history, with the first time being thanks to the actions of the mad king of Payens at the time and, after both times, fear of the Dread Knights as kept the flow of recruits ever-present. Even when not necessarily believed none are willing to risk it. However, as with all feelings, fear fades. Once again, belief in the Dread Knights wanes. All thanks to their apathy for their homeworld, another purge may soon occur. At such a dire time as this the consequences could be further reaching than the Knights of Payens could see.

## Deathwatch Service

Whilst the Dread Knights are not primarily engaged with the destruction of xenos, do hold fast to the Astartes' pledge to the Ordo Xenos, sending some of their mightiest warriors. Curiously they appear to lend some of their stronger weaponry (such as their host of 'hellionfire' plasma cannons) as repayment the Deathwatch allows battle-brothers seconded from the Dread Knights to return any fragments of terminator armour they manage to salvage (this deal can be dated after Yilanli's betrayal). True to their Chapter's nature the Knights of Payens who serve the Long Watch are haughty and arrogant, holding their supposed superiority above their fellows.

## Notable Chapter Space Marines

* **Lord-Paladin Ashkelon** - The Dreadbringer, Grave-Hound of Payens and Cold Hand of the Unforgiven. As current leader of the Dread Knights, Ashkelon is a warrior of unrelenting viciousness and almost psychotic determination. Famed even amongst the chapter for being more brutal and cruel than even the feared Brother-Redeemers, even bearing one of the black pearls, usually reserved only for the Interrogator-Chaplains of the Unforgiven. After the death of the then Lord-Paladin Garral, both Ashkelon and Yilanli were put forward as candidates for rulership of the Dread Knights. Despite the resulting schism it caused Ashkelon became the Lord-Paladin. To outsiders, Ashkelon is the most terrifying brand of psychopath, one who is able to control is rampant insanity, he is a utilitarian and a monster who inspires terror and compliance from those under him who are more blasé with their brutality. As the leader of the Dread Knights, Ashkelon is a tyrannical ruler, failure is brutally punished and his word is law. However, such dominance is necessary, for the Dread Knights' tenuous position requires them to walk a fine line. Though Ashkelon is every single one of the Dread Knights' worst traits, generally unnervingly amused with his Chapter's sadism and cold towards those he sees as beneath him, the Lord-Paladin is able to hide all of this cruelty and sociopathy behind a calm, reserved mask.
* **Lord-Redeemer Dacian Aurea** - Zealous in the extreme, the maliciously violent Lord-Redeemer, known as the Saviour of the Wicked (in either a rare display of humour or the Dread Knight's blind obsession) is the cruelty and instability of the Knights of Payens writ large. Like the Dark Angels' Master of Repentance; Asmodai, Aurea is single-minded and murderously stubborn in his hunt for the Fallen, willing to go to any lengths to capture and bleed remorse from those most hated of traitors. Unlike his demented counterpart in the Dark Angels however, the Lord-Redeemer suffers no delusions as to his authority, he knows that he serves only by the pleasure of Lord-Paladin Ashkelon and, though the Adeptus Astartes know no fear, their instincts for survival have not been dulled; the Lord-Paladin allows only what brings him the results he so demands.
* **Lord-Seer Zahhak Giorgi** - Where the Lord-Paladin is a utilitarian tyrant, and the Lord-Redeemer is venomous zealot; Zahhak Giorgi is perhaps the worst excesses of the Dread Knights. Cruel and monstrous, the Black Serpent is a psychic vampire. By leave of Ashkelon, Zahhak is unleashed, siphoning off the minds and emotions of the Fallen, relishing in his victim's pain. Utterly aware and uncaring that he lives only as the Lord-Paladin's personal monster, Zahhak is only let loose in the most dire of circumstances; kept beside the Lord-Paladin as an independent instrument of terror.
* **Lord-Artificer Craon Azylach** - The Dread Knights' Master of the Forge. Like all his Payensian brethren who have been initiated into the secrets of the Cult Mechanicus, the Lord-Artificer is distrusted and set apart from his fellow Dread Knights. Embittered by the contempt his brethren hold for him, Craon Azylach is rarely seen beyond the depths of the Halls of Forgiveness or Burnt Martyr's armouries.
* **Lord-Healer Sable**
* **Lord-Guardian Lydda**- The terrifying and ominous commander of the Medraut Brotherhood. Lydda is sinister black knight, practically Lord-Paladin Ashkelon's shadow, always lurking in the wake of his master. As the right-hand of the Dreadbringer Lydda is very much exemplary of the secretive darkness that the Dread Knights work in. Bearing the Whispering Blade, Lydda moves like twilight winds, cutting through countless life-threads with nothing more than faint gasps from his sinisterly glimmering blade. Given the unnatural, uniform behaviour of the Lord-Paladin's honour guard, save for Lydda's wielding of the Whispering Blade, many in the Chapter privately wonder if Lydda is no mere Astartes, and is some manner of enforced personality, or sinister avatar, a manifestation of the Medraut Brotherhood's mission to guard the Lord-Paladin.
* **Brother-Paladin** **Everard**- Current lord of the Deathwing, Everard is an arrogant and dismissive warrior like so many of his Chapter brethren. What sets him apart from his fellow Dread Knights however, is the apparent lack of viciousness seemingly endemic to the Chapter. Whilst indeed glacially cold and arrogant perhaps even beyond the rest of the Knights of Payens, Everard kills efficiently, uninterested in the callous brutality others, even his master seems to relish in. Many believe that, much like Ashkelon before him, his being groomed to inherit the title of Lord-Paladin. Much like his master, Everard is a functional monster, able to reign in his worst impulses and, through tyrannical command, those of his brothers.
* **Brother-Paladin Yilanli** - Formerly the commander of the 1st 'Dreadwing' Company, the vicious monster and contemporary of the current Lord-Paladin Ashkelon, represents everything the Dread Knights are infamous, an avatar of everything hated about the Chapter. Ill-tempered, arrogant and barbarous, in death Yilanli serves as the ultimate example of what straying from the whip-thin path they walk will bring upon the sons of Payens. Serving under Lord-Paladin Garral, Yilanli was seen by many as a hero of the Chapter, leading them to many bloody victories. To all, it was almost certain that once Garral fell, it would be the brutal Yilanli who succeeded him. However, to the surprise of most in the Dread Knights it was not as tradition, and common knowledge believed, Yilanli who succeeded Garral after his internment in the tomb of a dreadnought, but the 2nd Brother-Paladin; Ashkelon, Yilanli's age-old rival, since the two had been aspirants. To the majority of the Chapter, this was baffling, unprecedented, the hero of the Chapter overlooked for the sinister 2nd Brother-Paladin. To those who understood however, it was an obvious choice; Yilanli was neither subtle, nor capable of the restraint in the manner a Lord-Paladin must be, Ashkelon however was. Unfortunately, many in the Dread Knights did not understand this. Blinkered by their own zealotry and savagery, those supporters of Yilanli tore the Dread Knights in half, seeing Ashkelon as an unworthy usurper and rejecting his authority. In the civil war that followed, Ashkelon displayed just why he had been chosen as Lord-Paladin, utterly outmanoeuvring the superior numbers of Yilanli's reavers by playing on their sadism, butchering them piecemeal across the surface of Solomon's Hold. In the end, the brutish 1st Brother-Paladin was mutilated and humiliated by his cruel rival, his followers slaughtered and his flaws laid utterly irreversibly bear to the galaxy, and his use as nothing more than an attack dog shown to himself. Utterly broken, Ashkelon abandoned Yilanli deep in the Halls of Forgiveness, his only companion a bolt pistol. He has not been seen since the civil war.
* **Lord-Interemptor Barres Elyan** - The infamous 'Pale Scourge of Ashkelon' the commander of the infamous Acre Squad and often considered the informal leader of the dark Brother-Interemptors. Where Lord-Guardian Lydda is the sinister bulwark for the Lord-Paladin, carving through those that would harm his liege, Barres Elyan is the blade, making blasted and carnage-ridden wastelands of those that would seek to thwart the goals of the Unforgiven. Like all those belonging to his grim gathering, Elyan is horrifically scarred and twisted by the hideous weapons he and his warriors regularly wield. With his body largely reduced to cybernetics, many often assume the Lord-Interemptor would be a cold, robotic man, his obvious cruelty and vicious sadism quickly disabuse all of that notion.
* **Ancient Barachiel**- An ancient Contemptor-class dreadnought, Barachiel was seconded to the Dread Knights during their initial founding from the Dark Angels. During the routing of the Traitor Legions known as the Great Scouring, Barachiel served as the Dreadbringer of the Dark Angels before being crippled and entombed by Kharn the Betrayer. Seconded to the Dread Knights during their infancy, Barachiel was tasked by the Supreme Grand Master of the 1st Legion of the time; Uriel to mould the Dread Knights into the new Dreadwing. Though he seems to have succeeded Barachiel seems to regret his role in creating the current Dread Knights.

## Chapter Relics

* ***Redemption*** - Sometimes referred to as Caliburn, the huge greatsword is wielded by the leader of the chapter, currently held by Lord Paladin Ashkelon. Forged from a strange metal of sinister providence the massive blade known as Redemption is the hereditary weapon of the Dread Knight's Lord Paladin (chapter master) first discovered on the fearful graveyard world of Nicomedia during a hunt for Cypher and a band of the Fallen, the greatsword that would be known as Redemption is blessed (though many would say cursed) with a fearful ability that bears terrible parallels to the abilities of the culexus assassin, provoking feelings of discomfort and unease in those faced with it, when drawn in battle this disquiet evolves into full-blown horror and revulsion, even as the shimmering silver blade cleaves through every bulwark. Though it shows no obvious super-natural powers, Redemption bizarrely always seems to sit perfectly in its wielder's hands.
* **Molay Plate**- The ornate and skeletal armour of the Dread Knight's Lord-Paladin. Expertly crafted the Molay Plate looks more akin to an ancient reliquary, covered in devices of skulls and blades the armour seems to emanate a palpable aura of fear and shadow.
* **The Whispering Blade** - Even in the outer chambers of the Dreadwing Vaults lurk evil, frightful weapons. The Whispering Blade, weapon of the Lord-Guardian is one such weapon. Shimmering ominously, the with each life claimed by the sword's cleaving edge, another voice joins the sinister, murmuring chorus that haunts the sword.
* **Virtuous Light** - Discovered during the Isaren Massacre held by a fallen Brother-Knight of the 3rd Company, surrounded by countless slaughtered cultists three days after the initial assault. Down the side of the plasma gun are inscribed the words 'Loyalty above all. Nothing beyond its brilliance.'

## Chapter Fleet

The fleet of the Dread Knights is a curious thing, though many experts in the long and storied history Adeptus Astartes would assume that it, much like the World Eaters legion of old, would be geared to towards absolute annihilation, such a reasonable assumption would be wrong. For reasons known only to themselves and their fellow Unforgiven, the Dread Knight's fleet is geared towards the crippling and boarding of enemy ships, many believe that this is to slake the clear bloodlust of the chapter, however the many prisons in the cavernous expanses of the fleet speak of a far darker, sinister fate to those who cross the fleets path.

* ***Burnt Martyr* (Battle Barge)**- Flagship of the Chapter, the Burnt Martyr is a terrible and ominous vessel, with its spikes of lance batteries and immense holds, it appears to be more akin to a horrible parasitic insect when compared to the more noble and predatory ships of other Chapters. As the flagship of the Dread Knights, where the Burnt Martyr goes, the will of the Lord-Paladin is carried out. Ashkelon, the current Dreadbringer of the Knights of Payens, has been especially active, during the horrific Isaren Massacre and the Purge of Solomon's Vision it was the Burnt Martyr that loomed large over the dying worlds, carrying out the Lord-Paladin Ashkelon's vicious will.
* **Accuser (Battle Barge)**
* ***Grim Revenant* (Strike Cruiser)**
* **Intolerant (Unknown Class)** - A monstrously huge vessel, the Intolerant is a ship of unknown providence, believed to be older than the Dread Knights themselves. Only deployed in circumstances of the most supreme importance to the Knights of Payens' goals, the Intolerant is capable of unleashing a brutal and nightmarish level of destruction upon the foes of the Unforgiven. Of note is that the massive Intolerant of the Dread Knights shares its name with an ancient vessel of the Dark Angels Legion. The *Intolerant* was a Dark Angels capital ship of unknown class that ferried the units and vehicles of the Dreadwing into combat. If indeed the Intolerant of the Dread Knights is the same as the one that served as a capital ship for the Dreadwing, its history is darker and even more vile than already understood. On an even more sinister note, it could be evidence of the Unforgiven's potential heresy, a vessel so ancient being offered to a younger Chapter of a dark and ill-fortuned Founding could be a sign of legion-building.
* ***Zweihänder* (Strike Cruiser)**
* **Conviction Unending (Strike Cruiser)**
* **Toll of the Dead (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Oath of the First* (Strike Cruiser)**
* **Caliban’s Light (Escort)**
* **The Order’s Vigil (Escort)**
* ***Dark Lance* (Escort)**
* ***Sword Sister* (Escort)**
* ***Beast Slayer* (Destroyer)**
* ***Cold Judgement* (Destroyer)**
* ***Shadowed Vindication* (Destroyer)**

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Dread Knights have a primarily a two-tone scheme; the majority of their armour is black, the pauldron trim and armour details are bright silver and finally, their pauldron insets and helmets are a bloody red.

A large white coloured battlefield squad speciality symbol is stencilled on the right inset, indicating a Brother-Knight's assigned speciality - Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command. A small white coloured Gothic numeral stencilled below it or on the armorial inset, indicates the warrior's assigned squad.

To indicate their company assignment, the Dread Knights make use of small livery shields worn on the left shoulder pauldron. Company heraldry is indicated on these shields as well as a small white coloured Gothic numeral, which indicates to outsiders of the Chapter, which company a Brother-Knight is assigned. As a Brother-Knight ascends in both rank and prestige, he is allowed to incorporate his own unique heraldry on these livery shields.

Much like many other members of the Unforgiven the Dread Knights clad their armour in monastic robes (coloured black and with a bloody red trim) as well as this the Dread Knights' helmets are designed after the ones worn by the knightly orders of old Terra. As well, the details are primarily based on lions and other knightly devices.

### Chapter Badge

The Dread Knight's Chapter badge bears a large, stylised white coloured skull centred upon a field of deep red. A smaller winged-sword icon, similar to their progenitor's ancient I Legion icon, is centred upon this central symbol.

## Chapter Relations

To say that relations beyond the internal politics of the Dread Knights are a fraught and tense affair would be a spectacular understatement; whilst, like many other Chapters descended from the 1st Primarch the Dread Knights maintain close contact with their cousins others, such as the Consecrators and Lion Blades see the Order of Payens as something akin to an unpleasant necessity. Beyond their general contempt for the majority of their fellow Unforgiven, the Dread Knights are incredibly loyal to the Dark Angels, though the sons of the Lion are often wary of authorising the Payensian Knights.

## Allies

### Unforgiven

The Dark Angels' Successor Chapters collectively call themselves the Unforgiven, for their own Inner Circles are fully aware of the ancient I Legion's chequered history and they, too, seek to absolve themselves of their ancient failure. As noted, each of the Unforgiven Chapters follows the Dark Angels tactical organisation almost exactly. The Unforgiven coordinate their actions, and it is not unknown for the Supreme Grand Masters of all the Chapters to gather for regular summit meetings on The Rock, often to discuss their progress in the hunt for the Fallen.

Many of the Chapters do seem to hate the Dread Knights, as shown by the ease with which the Lion Blades were led into attempting to destroy the Dread Knights when Cypher himself infiltrated their ranks and posed as their Grand Master. The greatest supporter of the Knights of Payens, perhaps most damningly, is Asmodai himself, praising them for the horrific lengths they are willing to go to.

## Enemies

### Fallen Angels

Like all Dark Angels Successor Chapters, the Dread Knights loathe those renegade Space Marines who were once members of the Dark Angels Legion that spat upon their oaths to the Lion and followed the Arch-Betrayer Luther into damnation. The Dread Knights relentlessly pursue the Fallen across the breadth and width of the galaxy, determined to capture them and force them to repent, in order to achieve forgiveness in the eyes of the Emperor.

Interestingly Cypher, the Lord of the Fallen himself, seems to have a particular hatred of the Dread Knights and has in fact rather openly attempted to have them destroyed, manipulating the Lion Blades Chapter into destroying Cappadocian (the Chapter's former homeworld).

### Space Wolves

As with the other members of the Unforgiven the Dread Knights have a fierce feud with the Vlka Fenryka that dates back to the Great Crusade and the rivalry between Leman Russ and Lion El'Jonson. While with the Dark Angels and other descendants of the Lord of Caliban see it more as something of a difference of attitude and methods (although still a combative rivalry) the Dread Knights themselves see themselves as above the Space Wolves and treat them with naked contempt. The Wolves for their part are horrified and outraged by what little they have discovered of the Dread Knights.

### Ordo Hereticus

The Ordo Hereticus are persistent in their attempts to discover the Dread Knight's secrets, much like they are with other members of the Unforgiven, so far however. they have yet to discover what the Knights of Payens hide.

### By Your Chapter

"*Will you repent or will you die?"
 "I'd rather die whelp."
"Very well...death by repentance.*"
— Brother-Redeemer Sharthal and a Fallen Angel prior to his interrogation and redemption
"*Redemption calls and you will answer. The Lord-Paladin's will be done.*"
—Lord-Guardian Lydda
"*Yilanli failed because he is nothing but a warrior. He could fight and that was it. The brand of oafish yawp he calls command may be useful in a brawl but the 1st Legion’s huntsmen need more than some brute. He was a Fenrisian bereft of their low cunning, useful only as an attack dog.*"
—Lord-Paladin Ashkelon
*Feel free to add your own*
### About Your Chapter

"*They are willing to cast aside everything, including sanity to capture those most hateful of traitors. A worthy ideal indeed.*"
— Interrogator-Chaplain Asmodai
"*Carnage follows them like a shadow, yet we have never found true proof of their vile insanity. Their motives must be found and their rampage brought to an end.*"
—- Inquisitor Qurv
"*That you exist is proof there is no justice in the Terran's Imperium, Do what you will, I will never repent for doing what was right.*"
—'Ser' Sitri the Fallen Angel after his capture by Ashkelon during the Isaren Massacre
"*It was a mistake. The Dreadwing of old were guided by the Emperor, by our Primarch. The Dread Knights had only me, a poor and broken substitute.*"
—Ancient Barachiel to Azrael

[Source]

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

[Source]

## Gallery

Lord-Paladin Ashkelon (by **Filip-Hammer**A Brother-Templar of the Order of Payens, the Chapter's elite 1st Company, arrayed in one of the Chapter's few suits of Indomitus pattern Terminator Armour.A Dread Knights Battle-Brother of an unknown company.The ancient Serpent's Bane, a Leviathan Dreadnought of the Dread Knights Chapter