Dust Knights

Dust Knights armorial with Chapter iconography.

A Dust Knight Battle-Brother of the 5th House, 5th Battleline Squad.

The **Dust Knights** are an enigmatic Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes created during an unknown Founding and of uncertain origins, though most sources point to the Raven Guard. Mysterious, the Dust Knights rarely speak to other Imperial forces, let alone fight alongside them, coming and going as they please. Many Commanders, even fellow Space Marines, have noted how eerie these Adeptus Astartes are. Operating near the Fringe Worlds between the Segmentum Obscurus and Segmentum Ultima, the Dust Knights have struck against the Forces of Chaos, Tau, Tyranids and so forth, causing mayhem amongst their ranks. Despite their tactics and attitude, the Dust Knights value the lives of Imperial citizens and are willing to risk their lives to avoid civilian casualties.

## History

The origins of the Dust Knights are unknown, but the first recorded sighting of them was in 555.M37 on the Hive World Gastron in Ultima Segmentum. The planet was suffering raids from Dark Eldar parties, resulting in heavy causalities among the Imperial Defenders and citizens. Witnesses sighted the Astartes striking against the Dark Eldar, eliminating isolated parties, utilizing the maze-like structures of the cities with Assault Squads and aircraft, striking from above, followed by ground forces moving in to eliminate survivors. The Dust Lord in command reorganized the scattered Imperial Guard and Planetary Defense Forces into a working fighting force, using them to reinforce the Dust Knights and push the Xenos back. The campaign took half a year until the last Dark Eldar was slain and the final Webway Gate was destroyed. An Imperial Sergeant commented on how the Dust Knights moved like the wind as they surged to eliminate the foe.

## Chapter Homeworld

### Chalatee

The Chapter's Homeworld is called Chalatee, a Desert-Mountain Civilized Feudal-Level World. It is completely made of desert terrains with no oceans whatsoever, with instead pockets of water around the planet and a few gathering of close knit mountains. The people are either scattered into different medieval-level kingdoms or tribes, the latter of whom are mostly nomadic, trying to survive against the great heat of the planet's sun, mostly living near the cool mountains and caves. There are a small number of oasis with plenty of water or plots of land that can be farmed. Most of these areas were artificially made by the Dust Knights, providing the natives the limited amount of necessities so they can birth future recruits.

From time to time, the planet will have cases of severe weather, followed by sandstorms. In rare times, there will be heavy rain, lightning and tornado too. The people of Chalatee see this as both a blessing and a curse, as the storms will provide water for their artificial water collectors, but also because of how violent the storms can be sometimes. The severeness of the weather is what made the Dust Knights so skilled in aerial tactics, as it takes great skill to navigate through the storms.

The planet only has a single moon, Easif. Unlike the planet, the moon is more lush and can support life better than Chalatee. Most of the food and other necessities are grown there and are brought to the planet's surface by the chapter for the Astartes and inhabitants of Chalatee. In addition, the Dust Knights have an observation post stationed on the planet, manned only by the 10th Company, House Kashmas.

## Fortress Monastery

### The Scorpion

    The Fortress-Monastery known as the Scorpion, it is where the Dust Knights resides when not in battle. The Scorpion is in fact a massive mobile fortress, nearly around the same size as a Hive City. Its large wheels enable it to trek across the desert and mountains of Chalatee with no trouble. Armed with weaponry to repel both air and ground forces, very few can hope to breach this moving fortress. Its mobility is so the Dust Knights can locate the tribes scattered across Chalatee when seeking out new recruits and ensure that there are no invaders on their world. The Chapter's fleet is stationed at an orbital station around the planet, allowing the Dust Knights to mobilize quickly for campaigns, or for damaged ships to have a place to dock and be repaired. Only the Chapter Command is stationed aboard the Scorpion, along with important relics, the bodies of fallen brothers, the main armoury and so forth.

## Chapter Organization

The chapter's battle force follows standard *Codex Astartes* regulations in terms of ten companies. However, each company is a Battle Company. The reason being is that each company is called a House, being responsible for ruling over a certain piece of Chalatee and in term, responsible for their own Houses, thus making each Company independent of one another. This is so that the chapter can easily respond to possible attacks, whether external or internal, however it also makes it rare for two or more companies to work alongside one another unless ordered by the Dust Marshal or depending on the situation. Furthermore, each House carries a specific duty, mainly based on what their assigned company designation is and will also draw recruits who will be sent to the Scorpion to be tested. The Houses are ruled by the Dust Lords (Captains), with the Veterans of each House serving as his advisors. The Dust Lords thus answer only to the Dust Marshal (Chapter Master), who rules from the Scorpion, the chapter's mobile Fortress-Monastery.

### Officer Ranks

* **Dust Marshal**: The title of Chapter Master, the Dust Marshal commands the entire chapter and overseeing the Dust Knights' operations. As the leader of the chapter, the Dust Marshal is also gifted with the chapter's most prize relics of war. When performing inspections of the Chapter's Houses or when in battle, the Dust Marshal will be accompanied by the Ashen Custodians, the Dust Knights' Honour Guard and is also in command of the Veteran Company of the Dust Knights Chapter.
* **Dust Lords**: The captains of the chapter, the Dust Lords each command one of the Houses (Companies). They are also charged with overseeing their assigned territories, reporting anything unusual to the chapter command. They are also given the charge of overseeing the armoury, training and battle-readiness of their battle-brothers under their command.
	+ **House Council**: Each House has a council, consisting of their veteran officers who answer to the Dust Lords. These councils are the ones who are charged with the running of their respective companies. This is also to ensure that even if the Dust Lord has been killed, the council can still run the companies until one among them can be chosen to become the next Dust Lord.
* **Lieutenant**:

### Specialist Ranks

* **Lord Magus**: Chief Librarian
* **Magi**: The Librarians of the Dust Knights, the Magi are powerful psykers who use their powers to fight against the enemies of man. Their psychic powers are primarily focused on causing misdirection and wide scale attacks. The older and most powerful among them are even capable of seeing into the past and future, of which they refer to as "Reading the Sands of Time".
* **Desert Priest**: High Chaplain
* **Sand Priests**: The Dust Knights' Chaplains, Sand Priests have additional roles among their brothers. In addition to serving as inspirational figureheads in battle, the Sand Priests also perform the roles of teachers. They educate and instill knowledge into their younger brothers, and will also take part in educating the inhabitants of their homeworld, in order to increase the number of applicants and potential recruits. This role is also directed towards the Chapter Serfs, allowing them to pass their knowledge to their children, so they might better serve the Chapter.
* **Chief Dune Shaman**: Chief Apothecary
* **Dune Shaman**: Apothecaries
* **Master Alchemist**: Master of the Forge
* **Alchemists**: Techmarines

### Line Ranks

* **Veteran Sergeant**:
* **Sergeant**:
* **Battle-Brother**:
* **Scout Marine**:
* **Neophyte**:

### Specialist Units & Formations

* **Dust Paladins**: The Champions of the Chapter, each house possesses a Dust Paladin. Before the coming of the Primaris, the Dust Paladins also served the role as second-in-command of their respective Houses and field officers, leading their battle brothers while giving out orders. Even after the Lieutenant rank was established, the Dust Paladins still carry out their duties without issue.
* **Dune Rangers**: The Dune Rangers are squads of hand-picked Veterans by the Dust Lords of their respective Houses. The squad's purpose is to be used a vanguard for shock and awe waves. Either deployed from Drop Pod or Thunderhawk, the Dune Rangers will move like a terrible sandstorm as they infiltrate behind enemy lines and sabotage their forces that will strike terror and confusion in their hearts and minds, obscuring their focus. This can range from destroying their vehicles, assassinating enemy commanders and so forth. The missions of the Dune Rangers is highly dangerous and fatal, but the veterans of the chapter consider it a great honour.
* **Ashen Custodians**: The Dust Knights' Honour Guards, the Ashen Custodians are experienced warriors and answer only to the Dust Marshal. They will be sent as messengers to the other companies, delivering the Dust Marshal's commands and enforcing them. All members of the Ashen Custodians are equipped with master-crafted Artificer Armour, Power Glaives, and wrist-mounted Storm Bolters.

### Order of Battle

**Darnoc Ashmantle**
**Dust Marshal of the Dust Knights**
**Ashen Custodians**
**Dust Paladin Oland Ragedust**
**Ancient Asteler Thantar, Banner Bearer of the Dust Knights**
**3 Dune Ranger Squads**
**10 Veteran Sternguard Squads**
**10 Veteran Vanguard Squads**
**10 Veteran Intercessor Squads**
**20 Terminator Squads**
**8 Centurion Squads**
**12 Vanguard Space Marine Squads**
**Chapter Equerries**
**Esdril Stonemaw**
***Master Alchemist***
**Alchemists**
**Chapter Serfs**
**Servitors**
**Land Speeders**
**Gunships**
**Battle Tanks**
**Dreadnoughts**
**Issatai Ran**
***Lord Magus***
**Magi**
**Epistolaries**
**Codiciers**
**Lexicaniums**
**Grimatin Sicadexus**
***Desert Priest***
**Sand Priests**
**Chapter Serfs**
**Angekha Cortios**
***Chief Dune Shaman***
**Dune Shaman**

## Houses

**House Ehayis**: The sole Veteran Company of the Chapter, House Ehayis is under the direct authority of the Dust Marshal himself. The battle-brothers of this house are seasoned warriors sent by the other houses, champions of countless campaigns. They reside solely in the Scorpion, and are charged with the additional tasks of selecting and training the raw recruits to become future Astartes. Dust Lords of other Houses are normally selected among the Veterans of House Ehayis, and when not, potential candidates are brought to be examined and tested if they are worthy of taking the role of their fallen Lord.

**House Irud**: Located at the center of their homeworld, House Irud can be founded among the larger, more populated, and more prospering cities of Chalatee. As such, whether they be sons of noble houses, merchants, men of the slums, or descendants of proud knights, the House's recruits all have a sense of pride and confidence as they carry the culture and traditions of Chalatee, of which has become integral in the Dust Knight's own beliefs. Astartes of House Irud are known to assist with the governing and protection of the cities, working close with the mortals that serve them.

**House Oskuy**: Overseeing the far north of Chalatee, House Oskuy consist of Astartes who are descendants of pilgrims who have braved the high mountains and colder atmosphere. Astartes of this House are noted to be some of the best skilled in aerial combat, skills developed through navigating the mountains of Chalatee, and are some of the most resilient in new dangerous environments. They are also the most isolated of the Houses, while will converse with the humans of their homeworld and other Houses, they hardly speak with Imperial forces outside their planet, and mainly take campaigns that have a lack of contact with other human forces.

**House Raskod**: Southern

**House Shesvat**: Eastern

**House Gulgish**: Western

**House Dadro**: Northeast

**House Cajir**: Southeast

**House Malges**: Southwest

**House Yobhra**: Northwest

**House Kashmas**: Members of the 10th Company or House Kashmas are unique among the Dust Knights. They come from the many nomadic tribes of Chalatee and upon completing their transformation are sent to live aboard Easif, Chalatee's sole Moon. Because of this, they serve as their homeworld's first defensive line against possible invaders, and their forces will mainly act as additional support for other Houses during campaigns. Members of this House, however, are considered the most skilled in Void Warfare and understanding of boarding tactics due to their role, symbolizing the Chapter's primary combat style just second after House Ehayis.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The Dust Knights' gene-seed is stable, allowing the chapter to have the standard number of battle-brothers as the *Codex Astartes* decrees. However, mutations have been noted among the Astartes. All of them developed tan to dark skin color, perhaps an after effect of their world or the Melanochrome organ. Thus, the Dust Knights have a much stronger resistance to radiation, as well as cold and hot environments than most other chapters. Furthermore, the Astartes' skin becomes rough and sandy, as they begin to age they develop wrinkles. Studies have also shown that the Dust Knights lack the Betcher's Gland organ. This means the Dust Knights cannot produce corrosive acid saliva.  However the Dust Knights do not seem bothered by this, and continue to perform flawlessly either way.

### Primarch's Curse: (Lone Warrior)

A trait all Astartes of the Dust Knights inherit, the affinity for working alone. This does not relate to the bonds between brothers, as those are firm and unbreakable, but rather with outsiders. The Dust Knights have shown to be closed off and distance from those who are not of their chapter, including allies such as the Imperial Guards, Sisters of Battle, and even fellow Space Marines. The only exceptions seem to be the Chapter Serfs that serve under them, perhaps due to a psychological belief that these mortal servants are a part of the chapter. Even the inhabitants Chalatee are not exempt from this, as it is rare for the Dust Knights to interact with the people of their homeworld unless for important business.

This has rather unfortunate consequences. Specifically during campaigns when Imperial allies are with them. The Dust Knight Astartes have been known to rarely speak with their allies, the only exceptions when giving orders or discussing strategy. Even then, they will only speak if necessary, and will usually take on tasks that puts them away from working with outsiders. This puts on the belief that the Dust Knights consider themselves above their allies, which has in turn left a bad impression from other Imperial commanders. Nevertheless, this has also worked for the Dust Knights, as they have been able to carry out their duties without worry of interference when in battle.

## Combat Doctrine

The Dust Knights prefer the use of aerial assaults rather than follow most tactics presented in the Codex Astartes. This includes air support and transportation as well as drop pods for insertion behind enemy lines and infiltrating, launching lightning strikes without dealing with the foe's primary defenses. Because of this, Thunderhawks, Stormtalons, Stormravens, Stormhawk Interceptors and even the Storm Eagles are highly favored and used to bombard the enemy positions and support ground forces. Furthermore, Assault Marines are used greatly by the Dust Knights, followed by Inceptor Squads and Suppressor Squads after the introduction of Primaris Space Marines. Their skills for sudden breaking enemy lines, melee combat and firepower are used many times by the Dust Knights and has led to victory for the chapter.

In addition, the shock tactics the chapter uses are greatly effective. Basically used for rapid assaults and sowing terror among the enemy has allowed the Dust Knights to swiftly wipe out resistance and fulfill their objective or eliminate their targets, and then pressing the advantage by encircling the foe with the coming of heavy units to finish off the enemy. In this situation, Space Marine Bike Squads, Scout Squads and again Assault Squads are greatly valued for such tactics, with some credit to Devastator Squads whose heavy firepower can quickly scatter enemies. When the Primaris Space Marines were introduced, the Reiver, Eliminator and Infiltration Squads became highly beneficial with their ruthlessness and stealth in sabotaging enemy logistics, leaders and so on.

In connection with their mastery of aerial combat, the Dust Knights are also highly effective in void warfare. Very few can match them in battle up in space. The chapter will use skilled maneuvers to flank the enemy, or use special formations with their void attack crafts and even boarding tactics too. When either breaking or forming a blockade, very few have been able to overcome them whether on offense or defense, the broken remains of enemy ships drifting in space serving as a testament. They can quickly adapt to sudden changes from both the enemy and the natural phenomenons that happen in the void, quickly turning both into an advantage. There have even been times when a single Battle Barge of the Dust Knights can triumph over a fleet of ten ships with minimal damage or crew loss, an example of the chapter's mastery of void combat.

## Notable Members

* **Dust Marshal Zakham Udissai**: An unknown figure held in high esteem, Zakham was the first Dust Marshal of the Dust Knights and was the one who put down the foundation of the chapter's fighting style and organization. He is also held with great revere by the people of Chalatee and also the same man who forged the strong bonds between his Chapter and the War Shields.

* **Dust Marshal Darnoc Ashmantle**: The current Chapter Master of the Dust Knights, Darnoc Ashmantle is the youngest battle-brother to be given the title. Even back when he was a Dust Paladin, Darnoc earned a reputation of favoring lightning strikes, attacking quickly before the enemy could respond. His skills and tactics earned him the title, "Death Wind" due to leaving a field of corpses and yet moving so quickly like the wind itself. In battle he wields the sacred Power Spear relic, Easifat Ramlia, along with a wrist-mounted Storm Bolter. Darnoc usually charges into battle from the sky, equipped with a modified Jump Pack.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The primary color of the Dust Knights' Power Armour is brown, with the exception of both shoulder pauldron insets, gauntlets, sabatons (boots), couters (elbow guards), and poleyns (knee guards) being coloured khaki. The Aquila or Imperial on the plastron (chest guard) is coloured gold. A pair of khaki coloured squad specialty symbols on both armorial insets indicate a battle-brother's assigned squad specialty (Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command). A small khaki coloured gothic numeral stenciled on the right armorial inset indicates the battle-brother's assigned squad. A larger brown coloured gothic numeral is stenciled upon the left poleyn, which indicates their assigned company.

Sergeants can be identified by a vertical khaki coloured stripe on their helmets. Meanwhile, Veteran Marines can be identified by a Khaki coloured helm, while Veteran Sergeants wear the same coloured helms with a vertical brown coloured stripe.

### Chapter Badge

The Dust Knights' symbol is a mighty vortex of wind, representing that the chapter will scatter their foes into oblivion and across the stars. Placed in the center of the vortex is a skull that signifies the enemies of man who had the misfortune of facing the Dust Knights.

## Chapter Relics

* **Easifat Ramlia**: An ancient and sacred relic of the Dust Knights, this Power Spear has always been wielded by the Dust Marshal during ceremonies and in battle. The single-edge blade of this glaive is sharpen to the point that it can pierce through even powerful psychic barriers, not just armour and shields. A single swing of the weapon can send foes flying into the wind, as if scattered by a storm.

## Relations

### Enemies

#### Tau

The Dust Knights have made enemies of the Tau Empire. Since the Tau's first contact with the Imperium, the Chapter has launched several special operations against several of the xenos' worlds. Most include the assassination of Tau Commanders and Ethereals, destroying supply lines or ambushing their fleets, sometimes slaughtering entire settlements. Tau forces have attempted to stop these attacks, but with little success, as the Dust Knights are either too fast or disappear before they can be stopped.

## Notable Quotes

### About the Dust Knights

[Source]

[Source]

## Gallery

A Dust Knights Veteran Marine of House Shesvat, 2nd Veteran Squad.