Sacrosant Vindex

The Sacrosant Vindex is a Black Templar Dreadnought in the M42. One of the oldest known dreadnoughts amongst the Black Templars chapter, this ancient's voice carries an overwhelming amount of gravitas when he does choose to speak.

The Sacrosant Vindex is believed to be a type of Leviathan Siege Dreadnought. So far only seen in scarce numbers, this pattern of dreadnought appears to be limited to the loyalist legions though with so few examples it's possible that renegade versions just haven't been encountered as of yet. Records and pictographs have only been able to identify four known examples of this pattern belonging to the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Imperial Fists, and Black Templars.

Due to the limited information gleaned from those records and the similarities of the weapons used by these examples, the tech adepts from the chapters have long assumed their design. Since they share such a distinct design feature with the Saturnine pattern Terminator Armour, these have been dubbed as Saturnine pattern Leviathan Dreadnoughts.

The Sacrosant Vindex shows honours since before the birth of the Imperium. With the knowledge that the Leviathan Dreadnought was developed in secret on Terra, it's speculated that work on the Leviathan was actually started by the Saturnyne Ordos before they signed the treaty with the Emperor and joined the Imperium with the work being completed on Terra. With the slated disbandment of the Saturnine Fleet, it's possible that there were more examples of this dreadnought but were either lost or scrapped prior to the joining of the two forces.

To be interred into the chassis was one of the highest Imperial Fist's honours and subsequently that of the Black Templar. Those interred willingly give up their name and are simply known formally as Sacrosant Vindex from that moment onwards, their former name being etched onto the dreadnought's armour plates alongside every other fallen brother that has been place inside before them.

## History

Originally from the Imperial Fists legion, it is believed to have been built by the Saturnyne Ordos on Deimos. The first inhabitant's history of the Vindex has been lost to time but what is known is that eventually one of the mortally wounded marines that would be interred within was one of the Templar Brethren. This Templar's deeds would cause the Vindex to be permanently attached to the Templar Brethren and as such the sacred golden colour of the Imperial Fists was changed to the onyx of the Templar Brethren.

The Vindex would participate in the Wars of Unification right through to the Horus Heresy, garnering a long list of honours and distinctions from it's deeds. After the heresy and the splitting of the legion, the Vindex would go on to join most of his brothers in the Templar Brotherhood founding the Black Templars with their Templar-king, Sigismund. It was allowed to keep the original golden ochre of the Imperial Fist Legion on it's shoulders in honour of it's many great deeds.

### Second Founding

The Space Marines of the newly founded Black Templars Chapter would embark on an Imperial Crusade to prove their loyalty to the Emperor that is unbroken even into the 42nd Millennium. The Vindex found itself at the front of many of the earliest battles of the Black Templars and shared in many of the victories of their founder. Over ten millennia of almost constant warfare is displayed on the Vindex, carried proudly wherever it strides.

#### 1st Black Crusade

Though the inhabitant at the time is long dead, the Vindex was present at that great assault led by Ezekyle Abaddon. One honour marking etched onto the Vindex's sacred armour is that of the Defense of Temple of Dorn so even though it's known that it was present there, it's quite possible that it was there to witness the death of Sigismund.

### War of the Beast

Another honour on its armour is a black tower imposed over a white ork skull signifying it's presence at Phall and the only known enactment of the Last Wall Protocol during the War of the Beast. It's known that the Black Templars obeyed the summons only reluctantly and that their primary duty should have been to continue the never-ending crusade against the enemies of Mankind and the Emperor.

#### Cicatrix Maledictum

When the Cicatrix Maledictum, more commonly known as the Great Rift, opened; the Vindex was fortunately not participating in any active crusades. The Black Templars had lost contact with several of their Crusades. Helbrecht and the advisors present believed that those lost Crusades were still active and continuing the prosecution of the enemies on the Imperium. He was present as crusades made their way back to the *Eternal Crusader* and Helbrecht repledged the Black Templars to their never ending Crusade. It was at this time that the Vindex petitioned the High Marshal to accompany one of the new Crusades and chose Aristeo's household. Aristeo was deeply honoured by the revered ancient and graciously accepted.

### Knighthood

Sacrosant Vindex is a member of Marshal Aristeo's Knights of the Inner Circle.

## Wargear

The Sacrosant Vindex has access to a myriad of weaponry that can be used at anytime. Though it's most commonly seen with *Wrath and Ruin*.

* ***Wrath and Ruin*** - *Wrath and Ruin* are a matched pair of relic Leviathan Siege Drills with built-in Meltaguns.
* **Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher** (3 Hunter-Killer Missiles)
* **Smoke Launchers**

The Vindex may replace either *Wrath* or *Ruin* with any of these options:

* **Cyclonic Melta Lance**
* **Grav Flux Bombard**
* **Leviathan Storm Cannon**