Baleful Paladins

Baleful Paladins Armorial

Paladin (Veteran) Zadkiel of the Inner Circle.

### **Specialty**

Close-Quarters Combat, Shock Assaults, Defensive Operations, Counter Strategies, Boarding Operations, Raids, War on Multiple Fronts

### **Battle cry**

"*Ad Gloriam!*"
("To glory!")
"*Enim Leonis!*"
("For the Lion!")

### **Colours**

Dark Grey/Black, White,
Dark Red

### Successor Chapter(s)

N/A

"*...As the Lion saith fall his enemies fell...As the Lion Saith perish his enemies perished...As the Lion saith...*"
—Chaplain Kushiel chanting his praises to the Lion while mercilessly hammering his enemies with the Crozius Arcanum.
The **Baleful Paladins** are a Loyalist Successor Chapter descended from the esteemed and Mysterious Dark Angels of the Primarch Lion El'Jonson's bloodline. This Chapter is composed entirely of Primaris Space Marines, created during the most recent Ultima Founding by the recently awakened Primarch Roboute Guilliman. Operating in the Hexad Sub-Sector of the Milletatron Sector, the Baleful Paladins are highly active at prosecuting the wars of the Imperium against the myriad of enemies of Mankind. Like most of their allies of the Unforgiven Chapters, the Baleful Paladins are driven to prosecute the Dark Angels' secret war against The Fallen and are more than willing to answer their progenitors' call to war to achieve their objectives.

## Chapter History

This Chapter respects and venerates their Dark Angel heritage. As part of the Unforgiven, the Baleful Paladins still respond to calls to hunt The Fallen. At a high level, the chapter prides itself on exemplary Close-quarters combat, an affinity for shock assaults to overrun the enemies and like most Dark Angel Successors, heavy use of plasma weapons with a high number of hell blasters present in the chapter.

### Inauguration

The warriors of this new Chapter was created entirely using the new processes discovered by Archmagos Belisarius Cawl and established with all the necessary weapons, armor and equipment that they will need to conduct their defense of the Imperium. This new Chapter has been assigned a homeworld on the edge of the Great Rift, the Imperium's new frontline in the war against Chaos, in a system known to Imperial records as the Trigrisca system in the Ultima Segmentum. As the Baleful Paladins were dispatched to their destination chaplains of the chapter were sent to be indoctrinated by the Dark Angels interrogator chaplains and to be conditioned by the veteran war priests of their parent chapter.

### Arrival and Warm Welcome

As soon as the Main forces of the Baleful Paladins arrived in orbit of their assigned homeworld of Trideciad, they were greeted by an Ork ambush who were besieging the overgrown Death World both in orbit and on its surface. Driven by the determination to reach the surface and aid its populaces from the green-skinned Xenos, the Baleful Paladins had to break the siege by ramming their fleet into the crude but effective orbital blockades constructed by the Orks damaging many of the Chapter's Voidships otherwise, the chapter would have to use Exterminatus protocols to destroy both the Ork fleet and their crude blockades made out of asteroids which would also damage the world, rendering it lifeless and unhabitable as its remnants would impact Trideciad.

However, the paladins' actions that were driven by their iron will to aid the populace ended in major disfavor and disappointment to the chapter. As the first drop pods landed to aid the Imperial survivors the Paladins forces were greeted by not only the green-skinned Orks but also by an Infestation of Tyranids and their Gene-stealer cults even worse most of the Imperial remnants had started worshipping the ruinous powers to aid them in their times of hardship believing that the Imperium had already fallen as the Cicatrix Maledictum pierced the galaxy and crossed their skies. Only a few had strong faith that aid would come and did not join any of the foul factions besieging the planet.

The chapter used an old cathedral on a mountain top as their temporary base which was one of the last bastions of the survivors. The Paladins pushed back the countless waves of Green-skins and Tyranids while their counter-attacks were constantly interrupted by ambushes of the chaos cultist and gene-stealer cults. The paladins faced a war on multiple fronts as the battle also occurred in orbit against the green menace. On planetside, the ground forces faced so many foes at once so much so that a regroup was impossible. the war on Trideciad raged on for almost two decades shaping the chapters believes that they are currently tested if they were worthy enough to carry the lion's legacy and to bring righteousness in the Emperor's name.

### Testament of Worth

"*𝕻𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕰𝖒𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖔𝖗, 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖜𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖋𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕴𝖒𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖚𝖒 𝖆𝖘 𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖘𝖊𝖙 𝖊𝖝𝖆𝖒𝖕𝖑𝖊.
𝕻𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕷𝖎𝖔𝖓, 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖜𝖊 𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖌𝖊𝖉 𝖌𝖑𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖎𝖓 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖊.
𝕻𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝕲𝖚𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖒𝖆𝖓, 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖌𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖉 𝖚𝖘.
𝕻𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕴𝖒𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖚𝖒, 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖜𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖎𝖙𝖘 𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖘.*"
—Baleful Paladins Victory Praises
In the passing decades, the Baleful Paladins not only withstood the myriad of threats but also emerged victoriously. Their victory was hard-fought and costly, having to destroy many parts of the planet to root out both the Tyranid hives and Ork encampments has left many parts of the jungle world's large forests reduced to ash while the chaos cults were wiped out in an unexpecting counterattack by the paladins. While the orbital void battle ended when the chapter lured many Orkish vessels to crash into a moon causing Trideciad to have an asteroid field of both remnants of the moon and the Orkish fleets. The native survivors were only a handful and mostly were broken both in mind and soul by the two-decades-long onslaught.

This victory was all the proof the chapter needed to confirm their worthiness, a testament of the deserving defenders of the Imperium to bear the legacy of the Lion and those who came before them. In their honor, the few human survivors gladly bowed to paladins and swore an eternal oath of service to the chapter. Despite having rooted out most of the invading Xenos forces some fragments of Orks and Tyranids survived and were hiding in Trideciad's rain forest after being hunted down many times, a minority still managed to survive and now waiting for the day they could strike again.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Indomitus Crusade (999.M41-ca. 035.M42)**- The Baleful Paladins began their services as a Greyshields amongst the thousands of Primaris space marines in the Indomitus Crusade. they fought alongside many other chapters and factions of the Imperium under the lead of the awakened Primarch Roboute Guilliman also known as the "Avenging Son" who sought to push back the enemies of mankind.
* **Arrival to Trideciad (ca. 030-059.M42)** - The paladins arrived at their assigned system of Trigrisca and were greeted by Ork forces, blockading the chapter from reaching the planet. Later as the chapter successfully broke trough the Orkish blockade by ramming operations and made planetfall they were surprised to find that the planet was not only besieged by orks but was also infested by Tyranids and gene stealers on top of all that, surviving factions of the Imperium native to that planet believed the imperium to be already lost as the Great rift tore through the galaxy and started worshipping the ruinous powers. After two decades of a constant war between multiple fronts, the Baleful Paladins emerged victoriously. Despite their best efforts to clean Trideciad from Xenos filth, some remained even after many hunts, hiding, slowly amassing a new force to strike again.
* **Hunt On Orichaldria (ca. 063-066.M42)** - The 3rd and 4th Companies of the Baleful Paladins pin down a Chaos Cultist army on the world of Orichaldria while the *Cherubim Grand Paladins* Ravenwing equivalent) deploys in a lancing formation. The Cherubim Paladin lord's Support Squadrons clear streets while the Attack Squadrons rush the rebel headquarters, summoning the *Seraphim Grand Paladins* (Deathwing equivalent) to teleport into the structure and eliminate the daemon possessed rebel leaders.
* **Helod's Landing (Unknown Date.M42)** - The Baleful Paladins recruitment world of Helod's Landing fell into civil war after the Alpha Legion incited rebellion there. The Baleful Paladins responded, fighting through wave after wave of Renegades, cultists, and madmen. Finally, they exterminated every living rebel or heretic on the surface of Helod's Landing but a majority of Alpha Legion forces managed to escape.
* **Arrow's Tip Intervention (Unknown Date.M42; Believed to be 086.M42)** - The only known instance of the Baleful Paladins aligning themselves with their progenitor Chapter. This joint operation was conducted by the Baleful Paladins' 4th Company fighting alongside the Dark Angels 5th Company.
* **Trideciad Hunts - (ca. 090-108.M42)** - Hunts for the remaining Xenos since the Arrival to Trideciad (ca. 036-059.M42) on their homeworld had begun after several Ork raids and Tyranids sightings were reported. The decade long hunt was very fruitful and has the numbers of Xenos on the planet reduced almost to zero. The hunt, however, could not be finished as the chapter immediately headed to the Insectorias System as sightings of a Fallen were reported.
* **Insectorias Hunts (ca. 108.M42)**- As soon as the sighings of a Fallen were reported, Arch Paladin Lord Kerubiel led the Baleful Paladins in a hunt for the Fallen Angel under the disguise of campaigning against heretic Astartes of the Alpha Legion. The *Seraphim Grand Paladins* (Deathwing equivalent) managed to capture the Fallen Angel at the height of the campaign and dragged the Fallen aboard *Baleful Will* (flagship) to force repentance before handing the captured fallen over to the Dark Angels as the Dark Angels 3rd Company came to escort him for further interrogation aboard the Rock.

## Chapter Homeworld

### Trideciad

Located in the Ultima Segmentum, part of a sector known to Imperial records as the Milletatron Sector, very near to the Great Rift and the Maelstrom. Trideciad is a planet filled with environments too dangerous for humans to exists, covered by world-wide jungles that harbor vicious carnivorous plants and vicious wild beasts that could even rival the ferociousness of that of the Tyranids. The world was near-impossible to colonize by Imperium of Mankind due to the environmental conditions. During the 38th was the World first colonized by erecting large walls and fortresses on mountain tops and rocky terrains where the dangerous forests could not reach the colonists, however, reports of people missing or being devoured by native beasts were not uncommon. Most populaces of Trideciad were either hunters or fishers who relied on the natural resources with the minority trying to terraform the wildlands to plant crops, a task proved to be almost impossible as the giant roots of mega plants hardened the dirt so much so that not even explosives could effectively open the hard surface for plantation.

#### **Orks**

    Trideciad came to contact with the Orks very often in recent years but many invasions were stopped by the Ultramarines and their successors. The latest Invasion is theorized to have occurred sometime after the Tyrannic wars after the Ultramarines had defended their homeworld and their realm of Ultramar from Hive Fleet Leviathan. Ork Factions from the Octarius system that were not present at the Octarius Orc Empire as Lord Inquisitor Kryptman's managed to lure a tendril of the Hive Fleet to their Home system began their invasion on Trideciad sometime after 999.M41.

Even though the Paladins had purged Trideciad for many times, the Orkish forces never truly extinguished from the Death World of Trideciad, with Orkoid fungi to be found within the depths of the overgrown forests and frequent reports of encounters of their feral kind by the Paladins. While hunts for these few remaining Orks are practiced as sport or training it is also practiced as an initiation for the newly Indoctrinated.

#### **Tyranids**

    Suspected to have been brought to Trideciad by a drifting Space Hulk which the unaware populations of the planet explored and unintentionally infested Trideciad with Tyranids and Gene-stealers. Although the main forces of the hungering aliens have already been slain by the Baleful Paladins Chapter, continuous sightings of feral Tyranids acting instinctively have been reported, while most of the Capillary Towers stand abandoned as the tendril of the Hive-fleet Leviathan's attention was drawn to Baal, Homeworld of the Blood Angels. It is hypothesized that a great amount of Tyranids have already been slain by the Orks before the Paladins arrived, as the attention of the Orks was drawn to fight the Tyranids hoping that they would give more of a challenge than the weak humans they already crushed.

The Tyranids, like the Orks, are being hunted by the Paladins as well but in larger groups of more experienced members of the chapter, as the Tyranids ferociousness is not to be taken lightly by its unparalleled viciousness by even the native species and feral Orks.

#### **Native Species**

All of the animals and plants of Trideciad are deadly predators who have evolved potent biological attack and defense mechanisms against other lifeforms. Most known Trideciad plant species are toxic, making foraging for native food very hard, indicated by the human settlers numbers had only grown by approximately 150% over the past 200 standard years, a very small number compared to the population growth rate of other Imperial worlds.

##### **Notable Native Plant species**

* **Dread Flora -** A small tree with beautiful flowers hanging from its branches, with leaves secreting pollen into the air which is neurotoxic causing dementia and mental outbursts.
* **Trans-plant** - A small vine plant that shoots off and attaches some of its vines to its prey and then slowly but painfully turns its victims into a living host for more vines to grow from the victims as the vines unleash a series of mutative chemical reactions which transforms the person into a living host for these vines.
* **Death spitter** - another deadly plant, that spits toxins unto its victims' bodies containing lethal acids which paralyze the unlucky being instantly before quickly dissolving it by spitting dissolving acids from its trunk.

*Note: All of the Mentioned plants are Harmless to Astartes due to their superior augmentations crafted and Designed by the Emperor of Mankind.*
##### **Notable Native Animals species**

* **Blakematt Lions** -     A species of monstrous black lions native to Trideciad, the fiercest hunters upon the wilds of that jungle planet, having an almost unpenetrable hide while also being stealthy and very aggressive. Almost impossible to hunt down alone even for Astartes given their size and aggressiveness, hence their hide is very valuable and worn only by honored Space marine members of the Baleful Paladins chapter.
* **Shadow Beast** - Ogryn-sized, pseudo-reptiles that lurk amongst the inner regions of the equatorial jungles of Trideciad, ambushing and devouring unsuspecting prey. one could see them stalking in the dark and long nights on Trideciad.
* **Grox** - Although originally native to the Soloman System, are also found on Trideciad, perhaps brought by the early human colonists. The animals are prized for their highly nutritious and tasty meat and have been introduced to many worlds throughout the galaxy so that the Grox is now the most ubiquitous livestock animal in the Imperium. The Grox, however, are extremely ornery and virtually impossible to keep under control without some form of brain-implants or lobotomy, on Trideciad they have become wild, and are deadly predators.
* **Trideciad grey Serpent** - Gigantic ophidian reptiles having the girth of an Astartes' height capable of swallowing space marines whole although not very healthy for its digestion as it has to ingest Ceramite.

## Chapter Organisation

The Baleful Paladins, like most of the Unforgiven Chapters, follow the Dark Angels' pattern of organization, including having formations similar to the Deathwing and the Ravenwing, although they are not named as such, making the Baleful Paladins partially *Codex Astartes*-compliant. They are also attempting to re-enact all the Hexagrammaton formations used in the times of the great crusade by the Dark Angels Legion, but for now, only the Deathwing and the Ravenwing adaptations are officially in use. While performing excellently, they have not yet garnered the recognition of their parent Chapter's Deathwing and Ravenwing companies.

Like the Dark Angels, the Unforgiven Successor Chapters also have a clandestine group, known as the Inner Circle, who possess knowledge of the Fallen and of the true events that occurred on Caliban. They exhibited not only the tenacious defense for which their primogenitor was famed but also showed a talent for following up with brilliantly executed counterattacks.

### Officer Ranks

* **Arch Paladin** **Lord** - The Baleful Paladins' Chapter Master is known instead as the Arch Paladin Lord. He chairs all meetings of the Chapter's Inner Circle, which serves as the Baleful Paladins replacement for the standard Chapter Council. Only the Arch Paladin Lord is privy to all of the Chapter's dark secrets and even he does not know everything regarding the Fallen or their Forebearers.
* **Seraphim Paladin Lord** - Captain of the of the Chapter's Veteran 1st Company also known as the Seraphim Grand Paladins. He is generally considered to be the natural successor of the current Arch Paladin Lord. The Seraphim Paladin Lord usually knows almost all of the secrets held by the Inner Circle; only the Arch Paladin Lord knows more than this veteran officer of the Chapter. Both the Seraphim Paladin Lord and Cherubim Paladin Lord can be referred to as the Paladin Grand Lords.
* **Cherubim** **Paladin Lord** - Captain of the 2nd Company also known as the Cherubim Grand Paladins. The Cherubim Paladin Lord usually knows as many secrets of the Inner Circle as the Seraphim Paladin Lord and is normally considered as the natural successor to command the Seraphim Grand Paladins when his predecessor falls in battle or is promoted to lead the entire Chapter. The Cherubim Paladin Lord also serves as the Chapter's Leader of the Hunt known in the chapter as *Investigator Paladin Lord*; it is his task to run any rumors concerning the possible location of a member of the Fallen to ground anywhere in the galaxy. Both the Seraphim Paladin Lord and Cherubim Paladin Lord can be referred to as the Paladin Grand Lords.
* **Paladin Lord** - A Paladin Lord of the Chapter is the Baleful Paladins' equivalent to the standard Space Marine Captain of other Chapters. A Paladin Lord leads each of the 10 companies of the Baleful Paladins and ultimately falls under the command of the Arch Paladin Lord. Paladin Lord within the Chapter serves as a member of the Inner Circle, although even at this rank he is not privy to the entire truth surrounding their Parents Chapter's dark past or all of the Chapter's many secrets. To lead the Baleful Paladins require a battle-hardened Veteran, a dedicated warrior who has proven his prowess and Chapter loyalty thousand times over. Such heroes advance into the elite Seraphim Grand Paladins, the 1 Company, but to be considered for command, a Space Marine must distinguish himself yet further. Only those who show superlative leadership and tactical skills, and who prove themselves to be reliable in pursuit of the Chapter's goals, are considered for promotion to officer rank.
* **Paladin Chief** - When Roboute Guilliman revised his *Codex Astartes* upon his return, he added this new rank that of the Lieutenants known to the chapter as Paladin Chiefs. These officers serve as the right hand of their Paladin Lords, helping to direct the troops in battle and adding flexibility to the command structure. Many Battle Companies frequently divide into two Battle Demi-companies, and command of each of these falls to a Paladin Chief.
* **Sanctor Paladin** **Lord** - The Sanctor Paladin Lord serves as the Baleful Paladins' Master of Sanctity and oversees the duties of all of the other Chaplains of the Chapter. He is a member of the Inner Circle and is thus one of the only members of the Chapter privy to the whole truth surrounding the Fallen.
* **Intimidator Paladin Lord** - The Intimidator Paladin Lord serves as the Baleful Paladins' Reclusiarch. His most important duty is to train the Baleful Paladins' special class of Intimidator Paladins and he is usually a master of their art of interrogation and psychological manipulation. He is a member of the Inner Circle and is thus one of the only members of the Chapter privy to the whole truth surrounding the Fallen.
* **Restorator Paladin Lord** - The Restorator Paladin Lord serves as the Chapter's Chief Apothecary and oversees the medical needs of all Baleful Paladins as well as all biological research conducted by the Chapter. The Restorator Paladin Lord's most important duty is to preserve and maintain the purity of the Chapter's stock of gene-seed. He is a member of the Inner Circle and is thus one of the only members of the Chapter privy to the whole truth surrounding the Fallen.
* **Repairator Paladin** **Lord** - RapairatorPaladin Lord serves as the Baleful Paladins' Master of the Forge and oversees all of the Chapter's Techmarines as well as its Armoury and vehicle pool. With a deep understanding of the arcane sciences refined over many standard years of experience, the Master of the Forge is RapairatorPaladin Lord a Tech-priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
* **Habor Paladin Lord**  - Habor Paladin Lord is the Baleful Paladins officer who serves as the equivalent of a standard Master of the Fleet and is most skilled at naval warfare and who is placed in overall command of all of the Chapter's capital warships, transports, and air/void assets.
* **perceptor Paladin Lord** - The Perceptor Paladin Lord as the Chapter's Chief Librarian and oversees the Librarium. He is responsible for maintaining all of the Baleful Paladins' Chapter records and the security of its secrets. He is a member of the Inner Circle and is thus one of the only members of the Chapter privy to the whole truth surrounding the Fallen.

### Specialist Ranks

* **Seraphim Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins equivalent of the Dark Angels' Deathwing Knight, although not equipped in Terminator Amor like their forebearers, they are still the most fell-handed warriors of the chapter In battle, armed with Storm Shields and wielding melee weapons specially forged for retribution. Few foes dare to stand before them while none do so for long. In the stratified Chapter organization of the Unforgiven, the Seraphim Paladins represent the elite, only the ranks of the Paladin Lords are higher which were only chosen from among the company of the Seraphim Paladins, who are also members of the Chapter's Inner Circle.
* **Cherubim Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins equivalent of the Dark Angels' Ravenwing Black Knights. Mounted on powerful, heavily customized Assault Bikes, of the Chapter's 2nd Company, the Cherubim Grand Paladins, are the heavily armed shock cavalry of the Baleful Paladins. If they can pass the Seven Rites of the Cherubim passed down to them by the Dark Angels', they will be inducted into the Cherubim Paladins, the Inner Circle of the 2nd Company. There, they will learn the real reason behind their hunt for Heretics and the truth about their Chapter's history.
* **Victor Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins' Company Champions.
* **Sanctor Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins' Chaplains.
* **Intimidator Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins equivalent of the Dark Angels' Interrogator-Chaplain.
* **Restorator Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins' Apothecaries.
* **Repairator Paladin**- The Baleful Paladins' Techmarines.
* **Perceptor Paladin** - The Baleful Paladins' Librarians.
	+ **Epistolary**
	+ **Codicier**
	+ **Lexicanium**

### Line Ranks

* **Grand Paladin** - Veteran Sergeant
* **Paladin** - Veteran Marines
* **Lord** - Sergeant
* **Friar** - Battle-Brother
* **Outrider** - Scout Marine
* **Learner** - Initiate
* **Novitiate** - Neophyte
* **Mentee** - Aspirant

### Order of Battle

the Bakeful Paladins and other Successor Chapters of the Dark Angels, the Unforgiven, are not entirely organized according to the dictates of the *Codex Astartes*, instead maintaining their unique order of battle which is intended primarily to aid their continued hunt for all of the remaining Fallen Angels, and to maximize their secrecy in doing so.

Except for their two specialist companies, the Seraphim and the Cherubim Grand Paladins, the Baleful Paladins otherwise fight as a *Codex Astartes*-compliant Chapter. Like all Adeptus Astartes, tactical flexibility, rapid deployment, and combined arms remain key to their ability to complete the vast range of missions to which they are assigned.

    Although smaller strike teams might be led by a Paladin Chief (Lieutenant) or even a Grand Paladin (Veteran Sergeant), larger missions are typically presided over by a Paladin Lord. He has to lead his brothers in Humanity's defense, but there is another task incumbent upon him: the Company Master must be always alert for the Fallen, ready to call in the Seraphim or Cherubim Grand Paladins at a moment's notice.

The Baleful Paladins are currently attempting to re-enact all of the Hexagrammatron formations although only the Deathwing and Ravenwing adaptations are officially in use, sometimes the Arch Paladin Lord will give orders for temporal positions and formations strongly resembling the other Hexagrammatron formations of the Dark Angels Legion.

#### **Seraphim Grand Paladins**

    The Seraphim Grand Paladins are composed entirely of Veteran Astartes known to chapter to be of the rank of Paladin or above who serve as the Chapters Elites. They are tasked with a mission that takes precedence over all others, even though they may be called upon to fight a wide range of foes.

The Seraphim Grand Paladins are responsible for crushing all foes of the Unforgiven, and there are no greater enemies than the Fallen. Like the 2nd Company of the Baleful Paladins and other Unforgiven Chapters, which is known as the Cherubim Grand Paladins and concentrates on mobile warfare using Bike Squads and Land Speeders, the Seraphim Grand Paladins do not comply with the organization of Space Marine Chapters as outlined by the *Codex Astartes*, though all of the other companies in the Baleful Paladins and Unforgiven Chapters generally do so.

The organizational structure for the Seraphim Grand Paladins are as follows:

##### **Seraphim Grand Paladins Structure**

**Deployed as required. All actual numbers are obfuscated to outsiders**

**Redemptor Dreadnoughts, Land Raider Excelsiors Land Raider Crusaders**

#### **Cherubim Grand Paladins**

Like the Seraphim Grand Paladins (Dark Angels Deathwing Equivalent), the Cherubim Grand Paladins do not conform to the ideal of Space Marine Chapter organization as laid out in the *Codex Astartes*, though the Baleful Paladins' and other Unforgiven Chapters' companies are considered to be *Codex*-compliant.

The organizational structure for the Seraphim Grand Paladins are as follows:

##### **Seraphim Grand Paladins Structure**

**Deployed as required. All actual numbers are obfuscated to outsiders**

**Redemptor Dreadnoughts, Land Raider Excelsiors Land Raider Crusaders**

**Land Raider Redeemers**

## Chapter Beliefs & Chapter Culture

The Baleful Paladins are very close to their progenitor Chapter, the Dark Angels, in both doctrine and temperament. The Baleful Paladins prefer arriving without warning and, upon defeating their foe, disappearing without a word. This cryptic Chapter uses all manner of ancient glyphs and holy symbols to mark their armor, weapons, and vehicles.

The deeds of the Baleful Paladins are even less well-known than those of the other Unforgiven Chapters, for they shun fame and laurels, instead, they concentrate on their duties to the exclusion of all else. They are a grim and dour organization, with all of their companies wearing Power Armour of Black/Dark Grey.

### Inner Circle Practices

Like the Dark Angels, the Unforgiven Successor Chapters also have a clandestine group within the upper echelons of their leadership. This is known as the Inner Circle. Marines within this privileged group possess knowledge of the Fallen and of the true events that occurred on Caliban. The Baleful Paladins Inner Circle is known as the Hall of Secrets.

As brothers of the Baleful Paladins progress through the ranks as members of the Hall of Secrets, they are made privy to particular secrets and made aware of the dark past of the Dark Angels. There are many levels inside the Hall of Secrets and even side-paths through the nested rankings of this mysterious group. Points of Shame are made aware of certain ranks and obfuscated from others. Certain information is held at lower levels that higher ranks may not even be aware of, have they have not followed the same rank path as their battle-brothers. Plotted out, the rank structure of the Hall of secrets appears as a massive nested spiral, many layers deep.

### Wings of Honor

    A tradition stemming from the chapter's inception, battle-brothers who prove themselves in combat for heroism, tactical acumen and/or excel in the hunt for Xenos or Fallen are awarded the honor of wearing "Wings of Honor" to denote their status above their peers.

Usually attached to power packs, these plasteel frames are winged and clad in chapter imagery. They serve as a reminder to the marines serving alongside the distinguished brother. Seen as a source of inspiration and a reminder of chapter litanies and prayers, the Wings of Honor both encourage Baleful Paladins and strike fear into their enemies.

### Chapter Imagery and Symbolism

    The Baleful Paladins have a deep-seated obsession with the Dark Angels imagery of the pre-Heresy era. They adorn their armor with company imagery of the Dark Angel's famed Hexagrammaton on most of their possessions. The fondness for this imagery stems from a widely-held belief that the brotherhood of the Unforgiven was most united and at its height in these pre-Heresy days.

The Baleful Paladins primarily wear black/Dark Grey Power Armour which is reminiscent of the original colors worn by their progenitors, the Dark Angels Legion, during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras.
Most of the chapters symbolism is revolving the Hexagrammaton, as the chapter is using many battle patterns or formations similar to that of the original 6 wing formations utilized by the Dark Angels Legion. While those symbols indicating each formation are said to be ancient Caliban glyphs passed down to them as the Chaplains, now known as Sanctor Paladins of the chapter were send to be indoctrinated by the current Dark Angels Chapter.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Badge

    The Baleful Paladins Chapter badge is a white blade pointing upwards and centered upon a field of black or dark grey, encased in a consecrated dark red aura.

The sword pointing upwards means the willingness to face the enemies of the Imperium, always ready to slay the unnumbered foes and wage war in name of the Lion while also indicating their angelic inheritance from the Dark Angels. The white color of the blade indicates their noble cause to protect humanity.

The red aura surrounding the blade means that the highest honor attainable is to slay the enemies of the Imperium and spill their blood, only so can a protector of the Imperium and humanity attain true honor and glory.

The black background means death, the willingness to die to protect and also secrecy. Like their forebearers and other chapters of the unforgiven, the Baleful Paladins hunt for the Fallen Angels in secret and will do anything in their power to keep them a secret which this black background actually meant to represent.

## Gallery

Frair Kenniel, soon-to-be Victor Paladin (company champion) of the 4th companyBaleful Paladins Intimidator Paladin in Gravis Armor

[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]