Knights Revenant

Knights Revenant armorial with Chapter iconography.

Knights Revenant colour scheme.

"*Ours is a thankless task; the eternal watch of the ancient night, but the dawn is yet to come, and in neither life nor death shall our vigilance waver.*"
— Grand Master Gerhard
The **Knights Revenant** are a grim Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes of unknown origin, created during an unknown Founding. Their name is known by few save those under their morose watch, who remain thankful but fearful of the macabre knights. They are characterised by their dour disposition, driven by a grim sense of duty that pushes them to march into the jaws of death itself, trudging through what ought to be fatal wounds; indeed their ability to survive damage is legendary even among their fellows in the Adeptus Astartes, earning them their name of the Knights Revenant.

Seemingly as a result of this, in stark contrast to most in the Imperium, they hold next to no respect for the dead, believing it a testament of one's weakness to not overcome their wounds.

## Chapter History

Little is known of the origins of the Knights Revenant; as far as Imperial records state they simply sprang into existence in M37, although there are various conflicting accounts to be heard within their domain. Some of these testimonies state this Chapter to be the remnants of a previously thought destroyed chapter, stranded on Mussengrav. Which chapter this is is never consistent, but the theory remains popular. Others claim them to be sons of The Lion, although there is little to support this beyond a few visual similarities.

Little more is known about the chapter's deed since their inception, while not inherently secretive the chapter is largely isolated from the wider imperium making records beyond their own archives scarce. It is, however, known that they guard against no shortage of horrors, be they from the void or the warp, and every time they have met them prepared, in cold, unwavering fury.

With the opening of the Great Rift this was no exception to a chapter already used to millennia of thankless watch - alone and unspported - to face the terrors of the night. Being cut from the Emperor's light was almost no change for the Chapter's usual operations at all. In fact, following the birth of the Cicatrix Maledictum the chapter redoubled its efforts, declaring itself to embark an endless crusade and spreading across the Imperium Nihilus to reclaim and protect any world unguarded against the horrors of the warp, that now threw themselves against the Imperium.

## Notable Campaigns

#### M39: wars of undeath

the planet of Castelax III, a hive world under the protection of the Knights Revenant; found itself blighted by a host of horrific plagues that swept across the population and rendered them unable to fend off a sudden uprising of Nurgle Cultists. The Knights Revenant arrived to find the entire lower hive controlled by the foul zealots. they made planetfall in in the polluted wastes surrounding the hive city, and stormed the grimy bowels of the hive with morbid conviction, shields raised and armour bared. for seven days they swept through the tainted underbelly of the city, culling the grotesque cultists and purging their obscene corruption, but it was on the seventh day that the true enemy emerged, the wretched sorcerers of the rot worm brotherhood, they raised shambling armies from the carrion heaps, and conjured plagues winds to sweep rot and ruin through the hive. the following conflict was a gruelling 3 months of bloody and artless combat, the Knights revenant were ravaged by Nurgle's foul plagues, rotting alive as their armour corroded to blackened flakes, but their legendary endurance saw them trudge onwards, to meet the foe in shows of pure grit and quiet defiance. it was only when the remnants of the 1st, 3rd and 5th circles successfully disrupted a ritual conducted by many of the enemies highest sorcerers, killing 5 of the seven present did the battle begin to tip in the favour of the Knights revenant. following the battle vast swathes of the hive had to be demolished to rid the area of corruption, as the Knights revenant present were quarantined on the planets barren moon, many died to their afflictions, although remarkably many were able to, as befits them, endure the deadly plagues long enough for the melodies to wither, cut off from the corruption that fuelled them.

of course this left them disfigured even among they most senior brothers, but they wore such scars with pride, and had their armour marked with a sword stabbing through triad skulls, to signify them veterans of the wars of undeath

## Chapter Homeworld

Mussengrav, prior to being claimed by the Knights Revenant, was unremarkable in all aspects but it's hostility: haunted by the echoes of it's past, that have long since rendered it a frost-bitten hell world. As forlorn a world as any known to man, this planet is perpetually shrouded in eternal night and plagued by endless winters. It is a living tomb of cold black rock and frigid snows. Vast swathes of the world have been rendered inimical to life by the ancient use of forbidden weapons. Forbidding ruins of long-dead xenos stud the surface, staining the area with their sorcerous taint, twisting the world into all manner of unspeakable obscenities.

As a result of these hardships, it's cowering population has regressed to an early iron state of technology, akin to most feudal worlds and have since never been able to crawl back from the mire of ignorance. There are few lifeforms on Mussengrav, the world is no gentle custodian of life, but it does find it's place with all the feral tenacity it's capable of. There are even a few sparse forests of weedy, gnarled trees that suck up the lingering radiation in the absence of sunlight, although these are all too often the sight of that dreaded xenos corruption.

Fauna too is savage and ugly when it can be found, a handful of ill-tempered grazing behemoths, snarling predators and a near endless variety of carrion scavengers. First among these are the raven, a near constant sight under the baleful night of Mussengrav. There were never any ravens on Mussengrav, and seemingly no way they could have appeared, they simply arrived one day, and have thrived on the charnel feasts of the world ever since.

It is speculated that these are no ordinary Corvids, for their seems no end to their number, flying in their murders from the warp-cursed ruins. Even more suspect is their tendency to gather about the planet's protectors, indeed rarely are the knights not seen surrounded by the birds. Some of the more superstitious denizens of Mussengrav (most of the populace) believe the ravens to take the souls of the dead, and bring them to the Knights Revenant, citing that as the reason for their nigh eternal lifespans and seeming inability to be killed: when asked the Knights Revenant could neither confirm nor deny this

### Mussengrav History

Records tell of Mussengrav being claimed by the imperium far back in the days of the great crusade, where the XIVth legion tore it from the clawed hands of Xenos sorcerers. both sides leaving their lingering blights upon the soils, the Death Guard's alchemical weaponry forever scarred the planet, twisting the weathers to blacken the skies and blot out what little sunlight it got. but so too did the xenos make their presence felt upon the world, in their dying spite they left countless curses on the land, letting the warp seep into the darkest places where it might corrupt and contort the natural. and to this day nightmares crawl from the dark, and baleful ghosts of those long dead tyrants.

### The Night's Keep

A mighty bastion carved into the edge of the greatest mountain, the Night's Keep is the macabre fortress-monastery of the Knights Revenant. Ravens flock about it in incredible numbers, perching on iron spikes or pecking at the corpses strewn across it's black stone walls. The Knights Revenant prowl the ramparts, and serfs keep the great bonfires atop the watchtowers lit at all times.

Ragged banners billow in the howling winds, lit by the many lanterns so that their heraldry may be seen through he oppressive gloom. While the hearth of the mountain holds a great many more chambers, carved into the granite, inlaid with the bones of the dead. serfs toil away in forges and artisan tables, crafting and repairing the chapters equipment. marines stalk the unlit passages, and delve into labyrinthine catacombs, lantern in hand; so that they might meditate or reflect.

## Chapter Organisation

The Knights Revenenant are only nominally *Codex Astartes*-compliant, choosing to follow their own unique pattern of organisation as well as their own unique ranks and unit formations:

### Circles

The Knights Revenant are split into 13 Circles (in lieue of the usual 'Company' formation), with the 1st Circle being the Veteran Circle, the 2nd through 6th being Battle Companies, while the 7th-10th acting as the Chapter's Reserve Companies. The Black Circle contains the Chapter's Techmarines while the White Circle contains their Apothecaries.

### Rank Structure

The chapter is led by the Grand Master, commanding the 10 Commendators, who each command a Circle (Company equivalent), with the 1st Circle's Commendator being known as the Magnus Commendator. Each Vigil (Demi-Company) is led by a Marshal, and each Squad is lead by a sergeant.

#### Offficer Ranks

* **Grand Master** - Chapter Master equivalent.
* **Commendators** - Captain equivalent.
	+ **Magnus Commendator** - First Captain equivalent.
* **Marshal** - Lieutenant equivalent.

#### Specialist Ranks

* **Reclusiarch**
* **Chaplain**
* **void warden** - chief librarian
* **void watcher** - librarian equivalent
* **Lord hospitalier**- chief apothecary
* **Hospitalier** - apothecary equivalent
* **Master of the Forge**
* **Techmarine**
* **Chapter/Circle Champion**
* **Undying** - Standard Bearer.

#### Line Ranks

* **Exalted Sergeant**
* **Sergeant**
* **Revenant-Brother** - Battle-Brother equivalent.
* **Scout Marine**
* **page** - Neophyte Equivalent

### Knights Revenant Structure (Order of Battle)

#### Chapter Command

**Grand Master Heimrich**
**Lord of the Knights Revenant**
**Chapter Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**(Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Armoured Vehicles**
**Aerial Vehicles**

(librarius)
**void warden Balthar**
**Epistolaries**
**Codiciers**
**Lexicaniums**
**Acolytum**
**Recluisarch Reynauld**
***Master of the Faith***
**Chaplains**
**Acolytum**
Hellfritchtz
***Master of the Forge***
**Techmarines**
**Chapter Serfs & Servictors**
 **High Hospitalier Dietrich**
***Master of the Apothecarion***
**hospitaliers (apothecaries)**
**Chapter Serfs & Servitors** | **Commendator Sieghardt**
***Master of the Fleet***
**Battle Barges**
**Strike Cruisers**
**Escorts**
**Thunderhawk Gunships**

#### Companies

**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Dyderich**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Veteran Squads)**
**Marshal Gernant**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Veteran Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Wulfgang**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Bernhart**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal (Sibrand)**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Ehrhart**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Reinhaut**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Steffen**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Nikolaus**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Frantz**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Johannes**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Wilhelm**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Lorenz**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Bastian**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**

**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Gregor**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Emrich**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Gotfrid**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Werhner**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal siegfried**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Bechtold**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Joachim**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Mathys**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Friedrich**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Hartung**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Castiel**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**
**Dreadnoughts** | **Commendator Conrad**
**Circle Champion**
**Honour Guard**
**Command Squad:**
**((Ancient, Chaplain, Apothecary, Lexicanium, Techmarine)**
**Marshal Otte**
**Commander of the 1st Vigil**
**3 Squads (Battleline Squads)**
**Marshal Christoph**
**Commander of the 2nd Vigil**
**7 Squads (Battline, Fire Support, Close Support Squads, Scout Squads & Vanguard Marine Squads)**

## Combat Doctrine

The Knights Revenant favour a hammer and anvil tactic when possible. They form a bulwark of marines on foot, before sending biker squads to harry the enemy into close quarters, and pursue any attempting to retreat from the bloody slugfest. Once the enemy has been worn down the bikers coalesce into one unit to break them with a decisive charge.

However, they are not inflexible, and are well-equipped to fight more offensively, meeting the enemy with brutal bike charges and devastator assaults that leave them reeling, vulnerable to the incoming infantry, or they may dig in for gruelling sieges. The chapter uses unusually few devestators and heavy support units, being mostly used simply to support it's many bikers. in contrast it has abnormally high numbers of dreadnoughts, which they believe to embody their ideals of defying death, it also helps that there are no shortage of candidates for interment, as even those wounded beyond hope of recovery will cling to life for great lengths of time.

## Chapter Beliefs

The Knights Revenant hold duty and oaths in the highest regard, and to fulfil those even in the face of overwhelming adversity is a cardinal virtue. Seeing death so often is a hindrance to one's duty, it stands to reason to defy it, and pressing on when mortality seems certain is the greatest act one might perform. By contrast, to perish to nothing below assured destruction denotes a lack of conviction and willpower, and is scorned by the Knight's Revenant.

Like most chapters of the Adepts Astartes the Knights Revenant do not subscribe to the Imperial Cult, although they still venerate the Emperor, and strangely enough living saints. They look at the emperor's state and are inspired, that His dedication and duty to mankind is so great He has clung to life for 10,000 years in agony, even as his body wastes away. To them, the "Corpse-Emperor" is no blasphemy, for He is undeniably a corpse, and all the more venerable for it, and they seek to follow this example - to fulfil their duty to mankind eternally, defiant in the face of death. Similarly, living saints are praised not only for their faith, but as it was great enough to defy death.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The genetic heritage of the Knights Revenant is as with so much about them, a mystery. One may only speculate from what few leads can be drawn from the grim marines. Some have speculated they were spawned of the lord Corax, citing the bone-pale complexion of the Knights Revenant as the result of the Melanochrome organ malfunction that characterises those of the old XIX Legion's heritage, although it is likely it is merely a result of their sunless homeworld. That, and the functioning Betcher's Gland and Mucranoid organs further discredit this theory.

What can be attributed to their gene-seed however is their legendary ability to withstand damage. It is said a Knights Revenant can survive days after sustaining wounds severe enough to fell a normal Space Marine, weeks even, if some more disreputable sources are to be believed. Beyond that is difficult to determine what aspects of the Knights Revenant are products of their gene-seed and which are resulting from their glum homeworld. The aforementioned pallor, as well as dour demeanour and sense of grim duty are all possible results of either cause.

The gene-seed is not without it's flaws of course, it's inability to support the Sus-an Membrane being perhaps the most impactful, rendering the chapter unable to enter the healing Sus-an coma that would take over most Astartes upon receiving critical damage, the Knights Revenant merely endure, often fully conscious throughout their near death state, and yet remarkably seem to heal just as fast, although said accelerated healing has it's consequences. The rapid repair of tissue is a flawed process, that leaves heavy scarring on the Knight Revenant's body, combined with their method of warfare, this leaves most veteran Knights Revenant's closer resembling corpses than men.

## Primarch's Curse: Reaper's Toll

Like many chapters, the Knights Revenant bare a genetic curse that will inevitably afflict all members of the chapter, usually triggered by a near-death experience, something far too common among the Knights Revenant, and with each brush past the reaper's scythe, their chances of triggering the curse greatly increases over time. Knights Revenant afflicted by the "Reaper's Toll", as it has been dubbed, believe death to have finally exacted it's toll on them, and that they are already dead. It does not manifest immediately, but over time, the afflicted Astartes slowly loses any sense of identity, as well as any interest in the world beyond their duty. While most Knights Revenant leave superficial battle damage on their armour as marks of endurance, those cursed by the Reaper's Toll don't care to have even catastrophic armour damage repaired, and have been known to stalk the battlefield in non-functional scraps of power armour, leaking deadly radiation - revenants of their former glorious selves.

## Notable Knights Revenant

#### grand master Heinrich "the sorrow-sworn"

the current grand master of the knights revenant. Grand master Heinrich is dour and driven figure, reported dead 7 times over his long career, and so far, no such reports have been accurate. but such encounters with death have left Heinrich a walking corpse of a man, his body a gnarled wreck of scar tissue clinging to old bones, his mind cold and brooding. some even claim he has paid the reapers toll

#### grand master Gerhard "rots-bane"

among the knights revenant fire-bellied warriors are few and far between, the grave chapter is forbidding to such, and yet Gerhard stands apart, far more animated than most among his brothers, he was renowned for his disciplined fury in combat.

Gerhard served as commentator of the 5th circle in the wars of undeath, where his triumphs would see him become the figurehead for that bloody war. and in the decades following, after the former grand master had met his final death, the commentators looked back on Gerhards deeds, and elected him as the new grand master. he would lead the chapter with valour for 500 years before being interred within a dreadnought, which to this day serves the chapter with distinction

#### Void warden Balthar "the eternal"

any who know the knight's revenant will know of their eerie Void warden the self proclaimed "eternal", a secretive and shadowy man, Balthar is distrusted more so even than most psykers among the Knights Revenant. and one could hardly be blamed for harbouring suspicions: truth be told his visage is hardly different from that of his predecessors, there has not been a new face occupying the position for over a thousand years. there are even rumours if you are inclined to believe them, of him delving through the cursed xenos ruins, but as with so many whispers about the Knights revenant, it is difficult to discern if there is one element of truth in the rumours

## Chapter Relics

#### Shield of Treueschwur

this Macabre shield is traditionally born by the Grand Master. it represents the grand master and by extension the chapters devotion to their oaths of duty, for inlaid in it's frost hardened adamantium is the bones of Grand Master Bestigenn, the first grand master of the knights revenants, his oath of undying protection etched into his remains.

#### Death's hand

this ancient manreaper power scythe belonged to a soldier of the XIVth legion, who fell in the battle for Mussengrav in the great crusade. the blade was later recovered by the knights revenant, who entrusted it to at the time Void Warden Dismas (who funnily enough has a remarkable resemblance to Balthar), who claims it's long tally of victims, abstract symbolism within the warp and millennia spent seeping in the lingering magic's of Mussengrav, have made it a more potent psi-weapon than any force blade. ever since it has been the traditional weapon of the chapter's void warden/s

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

the Knights revenant sport a body of dirty, dark grey, with a steel trim and grimy bone details

### Chapter Badge

the chapter's distinctive heraldry of the skull on a black cross, over a dirty white background, is, unlike most chapters, displayed in most cases on heir tunics rather than pauldrons

## Relations

### Allies

while the Knights revenant are no doubt loyal warriors of the imperium, they find themselves lacking any allies that share a bond beyond common cause, they are just as likely to be helped by any particular entity in the imperium as a chapter on the other side of the galaxy

### Enemies

the knights revenant have garnered the ire of the Rot Worm Brotherhood war band, who still curse them for their loss of favour with their foul patron following their defeat at Castellax II. many of their obscene sorcerers have vowed to show those miserable curs the glory of *true* undeath

## Notable Quotes

### By the Knights Revenant

"*Ours is a thankless task; the eternal watch of the ancient night, but the dawn is yet to come, and in neither life nor death shall our vigilance waver.*"
— Grand Master Gerhard
"*There is no greater soul than that which lives eternal. for even the Martyr pails to the revenant*"
—Marshal Sibrand
"*They ask us why we rarely speak. What is there to say? We live on the edge of death, and there are no words to describe what lies beyond.*"
—Magnus Commendator Ulrich
"*The Ravens do not serve us, they are death's heralds, looming over us. We take pride in that*"
— Grand Master Heinrich
### About the Knights Revenant

*Feel free to add your own*
"*If only they knew. If only they would allow death to take them, for death marks the beginning to the Grandfather's many wonders. But they resist, futilely, more than most. It is no wonder why they are so miserable.*"
— Halogis Soul-Blight, Chaos Sorcerer of Nurgle
"*Death oughta have quite the grudge against the knights by now, think they know that. Think they take pride in it.*"
— Unknown citizen of Mussengrav
"*Those knights are grim tell you what. Never seen a lot so macabre. I would be too if I were them. Just this battle and they've been to hell and back. Maybe even literally.*"
— Unknown Castelax PDF trooper

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