Golden Torches

Golden Torches armorial with Chapter iconography

Golden Torches Firstborn Battle-Brother of the 2nd Company ('The Burning Swords'), 4th Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Totalis*)

### **Successor of**

Unknown
Chimeric; Salamanders (Unconfirmed) & Iron Hands
(Vulkan & Ferrus Manus lineage; Actuality)

### **Allies**

Adeptus Mechanicus
Zero Legion

### **Specialty**

Flame and Plasma Weaponry, Close Combat, Strategic Defense and Heavy Assault

### **Battle cry**

"We march through the flames of war! Blazoned in holy gold!"

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

The **Golden Torches** are a venerable 3rd Founding Chapter. Their origins unknown, but some say they show resemblance in terms of beliefs to that of the burning righteous Salamanders. Furthermore, the Golden Torches are well known for their master-crafted weapons and armour, and high number of vehicles, just like the sons of Vulkan, further pushing the idea of their origins.

## History

The Golden Torches were formed during the Third Founding. Much of the records regarding this chapter were lost, but it is suspected they may be descendants of the Salamanders. Their use of armoured vehicles and sometimes flame-based weapons back this theory up. However, there have been incidents where several Golden Torch Astartes make use of bionic limbs and other mechanical weapons, similar to the Iron Hands Chapter.

## Homeworld

The homeworld of the Golden Torches, Uriel, is classified as both a feral world and a feudal world. The planet is 40% mountains, 40% flatland and 20% water. Uriel is a world that normally experiences high degrees of temperature but still receives a fair degree of storm clouds which is good for their crops and water supplies. There are various lands ruled by lords and ladies, while others are populated by tribes of barbarians and savages. The planet is split into ten regions where the human presence is the highest, each one under the unseen surveillance of one of the chapter's companies. The rest of Uriel is inhabited by small human settlements, wildlife or lifeless lands, mostly the mountain areas. Among the animals are large reptilian creatures called Kelyfos who hold much influence on the Golden Torches' beliefs and culture.

## Chapter Organization

The Golden Torches follow the rules of the Codex Astartes in terms of company disposition. The chapter is divided into the Veteran, Battle, Reserves and Scout Companies, but are rarely in contact with one another unless circumstances require it or Uriel is in danger. Each Company commanders are responsible for their own company's status. This includes recruitment, weapons, armour and vehicle maintenance and being prepared for battles. This aligns with the chapter's belief in independence, where each Captain must rely on their own officers to guide their companies through dire times. The sole exception is the Fire Priests, who work together to maintain balance and coordination alongside the Chapter Master.

### Officer Ranks

* **Fire Lord**:
* **Captain**:
* **Lieutenant**:

### Specialist Ranks

* **Chief Librarian**:
* **Librarian**:
* **Prophet of the Flame**: Also known as the Flame Prophet, the Prophet of the Flame is both the Master of the Forge and the Master of Sanctity. He leads the Fire Priests, evaluating battle-brothers of those who are worthy of the title and the bionic augmentation of veterans and high-ranking officers. In terms of power, the Flame Prophet holds the highest authority in the chapter second only to the Fire Lord
* **Fire Priests**: The Golden Torches combine the position of Techmarine and Chaplain together to create the Fire Priests. As such, it falls to these brothers with the duty of being both spiritual leaders of the chapter and responsible for the construction and maintenance of the Golden Torches' armoury, as well as their ascension of the machine through the burning forge. In addition, their skull helms have a function that allows them to shine, imitating a star or sun, to help increase morale.
* **Chief Apothecary**:
* **Apothecary**:

### Line Ranks

* **Veteran Sergeants**:
* **Veteran Battle-Brothers**:
* **Sergeants**:
* **Battle-Brothers**:
* **Scout Marines**:
* **Neophytes**:

### Specialist Units

* **Torch Carriers**: The Champions of the Golden Torches, the Torch Carriers are considered the best warriors the chapter has to offer. Wearing the finest Power Armour, the Torch Carriers, march to battle at the front of their battle-brothers and fight in the heaviest of combat and against the champions of the enemies. In battle, the Torch Carriers will wield the relics, the *Heater* and the *Flamberge*.
* **Golden Drakes**: Golden Drakes are the Chapter's Honour Guard. They also serve as advisors for each Company, overseeing the Captains and officers in the performance of their duties. Elite among elites, Golden Drakes only take orders from the Chapter Master himself, serving as his will. Befitting their stature and position, Golden Drakes are adorned in either Artificer Armour or Terminator Armour, equipped with Thunder Hammers, Combi-Flamers, Storm Bolters, Storm Shields, and Hand Flamers.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

**Vai'rast Grenzai**
**Fire Lord of the Golden Torches**
**20 Golden Drakes**
**Torch Carrier Kaezarus Issoris**
**Ancient Lycaoman Mein, Banner Bearer of the Golden Torches**
**Chapter Equerries**
**Igahiam Karryras**
***Prophet of the Flame***
**Fire Priests**
**Chapter Serfs**
**Auguptus Orioxus**
***Chief Librarian***
**Epistolaries**
**Codiciers**
**Lexicaniums**
**Dariurnon Corarikus**
***Chief Apothecary***
**Apothecaries**

## Chapter Culture and Belief

Following the appearance of their Chapter Badge, the Astartes of the Golden Torches Chapter have two sides to them: One side is the righteous flame that protects the people of the Imperium, while the other is the merciless fire that purges the enemies of man. Weakness is unacceptable to the chosen of the Emperor of Mankind, and thus neophytes are taught that they must rely on themselves as much as they rely on their battle-brothers. Every one of them must have the strength of twenty warriors.

## Combat Doctrine

Like their parent chapter, the Golden Torches also have found great use in flamer weaponry, followed by melta weapons and even their collection of relic Volkite-based weapons too. A good number of times they have left their enemies as burnt corpses or opposing vehicles turned into melted scraps. In addition, the Golden Torches hold a great deal of Plasma-based weapons, exceeding that of Bolter variants, showing that the chapter prefers energy weaponry over ballistic. The Golden Torches make use of their weaponry for long or short-range, allowing them to eliminate most of their enemies before moving on.

With that, the Golden Torches are skilled in close melee combat and steadily advancing. This is thanks to many of the Astartes going under bionic augmentation and the powerful armour they have crafted. However, even if their march might seem slow, like a switch the Golden Torches can change their pace without wasting a single second, being upon the foe in a matter of moments. This also relates to when they are on the defensive, fortifying fortresses with heavy weapons and traps, burning their foes from either afar or up close, where the Golden Torches will engage them in close combat.

## Gene-Seed

Like their parent Chapter, the Golden Torches also display changes in their skin pigmentation to become darkened in response to prolonged exposure to extreme environments, serving as a biological defence mechanism. However, this is a temporary case, and most Astartes of the chapter display slightly tanned skin colors instead. This does grant them stronger protection in areas of high heat or radiation, allowing them to fight for longer periods of time without risk of harmful effects on their person. Besides that, the gene-seed of the Golden Torches is highly stable.

There is, however, another notice in the chapter's gene-seed, one of psychological importance. The Golden Torches believe that as the superhuman warriors of the Emperor and protectors of the Imperium and its people, weakness cannot be accepted. This stems more from their own bodies, as injuries are seen as a sign of a flaw and must be rectified. As such, many Astartes of the Golden Torches will not hesitate to have bionic augmentations done to them, replacing parts of their bodies with mechanical pieces to improve their combat efficiency.

## Notable Members

* **Fire Lord Vai'rast Grenzai**: Current Fire Lord, Vai'rast Grenzai is said to be the greatest Fire Lord in the history of the Golden Torches. Wearing a master-crafted Power Armour that he himself made, Vai'rast has always led from the front, roaring like a dragon as he gunned down his foes with his wrist-mounted bolter or struck them with the thunderous powers of the relics, *Twin Towers*.

## Chapter Relics

* ***Twin Towers***: A pair of single-handed Thunder Hammers, these weapons are bound to one another through a chain made from a powerful ore at the bottom of the handles. The chain enables the hammers to be used as flails and strike the enemy from a distance, with enough force to shatter armour. They are traditionally wielded by the Chapter Master.
* ***Flamberges***: A type of burning blade, these unique master-crafted power swords emit powerful heat that can burn and melt through any armour with ease. The one-handed swords are gifted to the Torch Carriers as signs of their position and are seen as an honour to wield.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Golden Torches primarily wear golden coloured power with orange as a secondary colour located on their backpack and shoulder pauldron trim, couters (elbow guards) and both poleyns (knee guards). Like their progenitors, the Golden Torches make use of many ancient patterns of power armour as well as master-crafted artificer armour and wargear that have been crafted by their own hands, or embellished over several long decades of a battle-brother's service. As an ancient Chapter found in the wake of the Horus Heresy and the Great Scouring, the Golden Torches use the ancient traditional markings utilised by the Space Marine Legions of old.

The right armorial displays a battle-brother's assigned squad speciality (Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command). Instead of the usual *Codex*-proscribed numerals, the Golden Torches have opted to utilise their own unique numeric system which takes the form of an open-faced lozenge (diamond symbol) with various solid and open-faced markings, indicating squad assignment. This symbol is displayed on the right poleyn. A halved white-black coloured lozenge symbol located on the opposite poleyn indicates company assignment.

### Chapter Badge

The Golden Torches Chapter badge consists of a pair of ebon-coloured crossed torches centered upon a field of gold. This symbol is an excellent indicator of the two sides of these warriors; one side is the righteous flame that protects all Imperial citizens, while the other is the merciless fire that purges the enemies of Mankind with righteous flames.

## Quotes

### About the Golden Torches

[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

[Source]

## Gallery

A Golden Torches Torch Carrier of the 4th Company ('The Righteous Torch') wielding a deadly, flaming relic *Flamberge* power sword.