Angels Mortis

Angels Mortis armorial with Chapter iconography.

Angels Mortis Firstborn Brother (Battle-Brother) of the 5th Company, 8th Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fidelitas Pietas*)

### **Successor of**

Dark Angels
(Lion El'Jonson lineage)
(Primaris Angelus Mortis)

### **Specialty**

Purge/annihilation campaigns, Shock Assaults, Lightening Assaults, Drop Pod Assaults

### Successor Chapter(s)

None.

"*It is only fitting that these sons of the first angel of death, should now bear that same name as they carry out the Emperor's most righteous and holy work...*"
— Unknown Cardinal at the founding of the Angels Mortis
The **Angels Mortis** are a devoutly religious 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding chapter who claim the lineage of the First Legion and the bloodline of the holy Primaris Angelus Mortis. The chapter has its own unique view of the Imperial Creed leading them to view the Lion as the first Imperial saint and the Emperor's Angel of Death who will guide them to the Emperor's side. For most of their history the chapter focused on the gathering of holy artefacts linked to the Primaris Angelus Mortis and bringing the word of the God-Emperor to all across the galaxy, whilst mercilessly purging those who refused it. As well as embarking upon the Millennium Crusade, a millennia long affair which saw the chapter fight its way across the galaxy and a climactic final battle where the chapter claims to have fought beside the Primaris Angelus Mortis himself, whist fighting on a world enveloped by the warp.

However the Angels Mortis would end up accusing their fellow Unforgiven chapters, the Silver Lions and Ebon Angels, of heresy and collaborating with the Fallen leading to the War of the False Traitor. The Angels Mortis would be defeated in this war and for their ignorance were excommunicated from the Unforgiven and left as a broken chapter. The Angels now seek to repent for their past sins and seek to regain their former grace amongst fellow sons of the Angelus Mortis, a goal they will do anything to achieve. To this end the chapter has made its way to the Pontifex Cluster to fight alongside the Sable Pride and Ebon Angels, claiming visions from both the Emperor and the Primaris Angelus Mortis that claim that the Angels Mortis will find their salvation and an end to their penance within the Cluster.

## Chapter History

### Founding

Throughout the tumultuous period known as the Age of Redemption, the Imperium would suffer greatly at the hands of its foes, loosing 30 astartes chapters during the Abyssal Crusade and many more throughout the following centuries as the realm of man was blighted by events such as the Occlusiad War and the 7th and 8th Black Crusades. The losses incurred during these years necessitated the founding of new chapters, and in early M38, the Angels Mortis would be included within the ranks of these newly founded chapters that made up the 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding. The Angels Mortis in particular were established with the express aim of combating the newly returned traitors of the damned Abyssal Crusade. As such, by Imperial decree, the mandate was given to Lord Protector Darrian Kelt, who was tasked with establishing his chapter and then beginning the hunt for the traitors of the crusade. The Angels Mortis would themselves be outfitted with some of the best equipment available, with ancient stockpiles raided in order to give the chapter its war materiel which would be needed in the viscous astartes on astartes warfare that the chapter was expected to be involved in.

Their founding would be marked with an almost unseen religious zeal due to the need to expunge the heretics who had dealt the Imperium such a deadly blow, with the Ecclesiarch himself blessing the newly born chapter as they made their first journey out into the void. As they did so they joined the muster of the Imperial forces under the command of Warmaster Seleucian, which included dozens of Imperial Guard regiments, a full Navy battlegroup and tens of thousands of Frateris Militia. This mighty crusade force was required to tour a number of systems within Segmentum Solar as it made its way to their warzone, spreading the religious fervour of the crusade and bolstering the resolve of the people who saw the mighty flotilla move through their systems, with Warmaster Seleucian often insisting the entire Crusade force stop at Cardinal Worlds to receive blessings and make devotions to the God-Emperor. It is therefore no surprise that the brothers of the Angels Mortis quickly turned to the worship of the Emperor as they continued on their holy mission and slowly began to form their own view of the Imperial Creed. It is unclear as to the exact reason why the gene-seed of the First was chosen when the Angels Mortis were being founded, with some theorising that the drastic depletion of astartes chapters left the Imperium in a panic and with little choice but to use the best stock that they had, and with the Dark Angels gene-seed being amongst the purest and least prone to genetic flaws it was used.

### The Righteous Crusade (120-159.M38)

Under the command of Warmaster Seleucian, the Imperium would embark upon the Righteous Crusade in 120.M38 to hunt a series of emerging chaos warbands that had been marked as severe threats to the security of the Imperium by the Ordo Hereticus. This would be the first engagement of the newly founded Angels Mortis and the young chapter, alongside its optimistic allies in the Navy and Militarum, would vow to not cease this crusade until the very last of the traitors had met a bloody and painful end. Despite this being an official Imperial Crusade, the Angels Mortis were largely let loose by Warmaster Seleucian, with his input largely only being to point the Angels Mortis in the right direction of where elements of the warbands had been spotted, or where the wider crusade would benefit from their aid. Therefore, Lord Protector Darrian Kelt would relentlessly lead the chapter to world after world to clean it of the taint of the traitors, burning the world of Kerth and assaulting the planet of Oldis. The wider Crusade would often find itself get bogged down in lengthy sieges when without the Angels Mortis' support. However, when the chapter did lend direct aid, the holds and forts of the traitors were quickly stormed and taken. As such the chapter would move as one whilst heir hunt took them across multiple sectors within Segmentum Obscurus, with the Angels leaving many burned worlds in their wake which made it easy for the Brotherhood of Bone from the Ebon Angels to find them in the Zedriss system.

The Grand Master of the Ebon Angels had been personally tasked by the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels to seek out their new kin and judge whether or not they were worthy of joining the Unforgiven, and true to his orders Grand Master Lazaricus spent a number of years tracking down the Angels Mortis, who seemed to never stay put for even a second once the battle was done. Thankfully though the Angels Mortis had been slowed down by a lengthy siege within the Zedriss system, allowing the Ebon Angels and Angels Mortis to convene a meeting aboard the Angels Mortis Fortress-monastery of *Angelus' Fury* where the two discussed the events of the ongoing crusade. Lazaricus' true reason for being in the Zedriss system was not yet revealed, but the two chapters would agree to carry out the rest of the Crusade side by side, with the Ebon Angels offering their services to the Warmaster who gladly accepted yet further astartes support. As the crusade wore on the Ebon Angels slowly and clandestinely watched the Angels Mortis even going as far as to have some of their most veteran Paladins go on a 'cultural exchange' of sorts to dive deeper into the psyche of this chapter and to establish a more detailed idea of if they could be trusted. These Paladins soon found a burgeoning Imperial Cult within the ranks of the chapter, that venerated the Emperor as a god and his loyal sons as the first Imperial saints, something Grand Master Lazaricus would note. Despite all this though, the Angels Mortis were starting to loose favour amongst some elements within the Crusade command as their burgeoning religious zeal was causing them to fight their enemies irrespective of the damage done to either the local infrastructure or populations. And soon Warmaster Seleucian was being put under pressure to reign in the Angels Mortis but he would be unable to do so as the Righteous Crusade now entered a new more devastating phase, where the uncontrolled fury of the Angels would become a blessing.

132.M38 would mark a sudden and drastic escalation in the Righteous Crusade as the 9th and final warband, the Scarlet Blades, were cornered and seemingly broken. This was until they were suddenly reinforced by a massive chaos host under the command of Lord Hirat Bloodmoore, who launched a massive invasion into Segmentum Obscurus. But as this new phase of the crusade wore on, the Imperium and Angels Mortis alike would suffer five years of set backs and then a major loss as in 137.M38, Lord Protector Darrian Kelt would be slain in a duel with Lord Hirat Bloodmoore. Shortly after this loss a number of other chapters joined the Crusade in the defence of the segmentum, including elements of the Dark Angels, Silver Lions and the Ebon Angels Brotherhoods of Stone and Thunder as well. The death of Darrian Kelt led to the chapter appointing its second Lord Protector, Ormael Meneral, who was a follower of the now widespread Imperial Cult within the chapter. Perhaps more importantly to Grand Master Lazaricus, he was a close friend of Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis who was beginning to spread the word of the Primaris Angelus Mortis, and his incredibly important role in Imperial religion as well as his nature as the first and foremost of the Emperors divine sons. The new Lord Protector had also spent much time amongst the Ebon Angels and been taught many of the ways of the Unforgiven, leading Lazaricus to rightly believe that Ormael would be the one to bring the Angels Mortis into the Unforgiven. As an outspoken supporter of the Unforgiven and their teachings, Ormael would indoctrinate the rest of his chapter into the values of the Unforgiven whilst at the same time helping to spread the word of Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis' teachings.

As these holy teachings became fact rather than curiosity to the Angels Mortis, the act of becoming closer to the descendants of the Primaris Angelus Mortis no longer seemed a choice and more as a duty to join their blood brothers and uphold the memory of the Angelus Mortis and to defend his honour and legacy. And so in 159.M38 as the Righteous Crusade came to an end at the battle of Traitors Peak, the Angels Mortis were enrolled into the ranks of the Unforgiven and their Inner-Circle, with the chapters own Inner-Circle, the High Council, being taught the hidden secrets of their new order and what their true duty was now. Causing the Angels Mortis to go after the Fallen with a fanatic determination, that only zealots possess.

### The Years of Duty (159.M38-001.M40)

With their new found faith and mission, the Angels Mortis ripped their way across the galaxy involving themselves in wars all over the place as the zealous chapter attempted to destroy any and all heretics and xenos they could find. Their newly formed Saintwing and Purewing companies would find themselves almost constantly on hunts for the Fallen, with the merest hint of one causing the Angels Mortis to give immediate chase. These millennia of endless war and crusading are widely considered to be the golden years of the chapter as they were at the height of their glory and were exemplars of their faith, carrying out the holy work of the Primaris Angelus Mortis wherever the Imperium and Unforgiven required them to do so. The chapter would fight in any battle and made a name for itself through their heroic deeds, although their name would be forever linked with near uncontrolled zealotry which many astartes chapters saw as either a novelty or a dangerous trait that should be avoided. Despite this the Angels Mortis would make a lasting ally in the form of the Black Templars who shared their religious fervour and burning hatred of the enemies of the Imperium and although they have different views of the Imperial Creed with the Angels putting a stronger emphasis on the Lion as the first imperial saint, the two chapters were able to find comradeship and even discuss their views of the Creed seeing it as an exercise in theology.

Their standing amongst the sons of the Primaris Angelus Mortis would remain good, although the Unforgiven did frown upon their faith but was impressed with the chapters dedication and results. The Angels Mortis would also construct the Mausoleum Caliban within the Caliban system, having requested permission from the Dark Angels prior, out of respect. This hollowed out asteroid from the home planet of the holy Primaris Angelus Mortis would become the resting place for all members of the chapter who die in combat, with their bodies being collected and transported to the Mausoleum so they might rest close to their primarch fathers own place of rest. These pilgrimages would continue on for Millennia as a greatly honoured tradition of the chapter, with a pilgrimage taking place every century and a grand ceremony following their internment into the sacred halls. These years also saw the Angels Mortis hunt across the galaxy for artefacts from the Ist Legion seeing them as holy pieces of history and as a way of becoming closer to their holy gene father as these relics hold immense value within the chapters culture.

Whilst other companies hunted for artefacts and crusaded against daemon and xenos foes, the Saintwing and Purewing relentlessly hunted the Fallen without remorse and rarely taking a break. Their mission was so dear to them that the mere suggestion that Imperial forces in the vicinity of even a single Fallen might find out about the secrets of the Unforgiven, led the Angels Mortis to wiping out small groups of their allies, with unusually high casualties being recorded by Imperial Guard regiments who fought alongside the Angels. Whilst those the chapter should have pledged to defend often found themselves at the end of a flamer, such as with the Silencing of Outpost Bravo-311.

Many campaigns of the period were noted by the chapters use of extreme tactics and unrestricted warfare as they 'cleansed' entire cites and even worlds of taint. Despite this fact angering many and causing the Angels to loose standing and respect amongst their peers, the Ecclesiarchy would be greatly impressed with the chapters dedication to the God-Emperor. This caused the chapter to grow closer with fellow followers of the Imperial Creed, such as the Black Templars and Adepta Sororitas, and to respect the institutions of the Ecclesiarchy far more than other astartes chapters. Because of this, the Angels often found themselves at the head of religious wars and campaigns, where they acted as the spearhead for the armies of the faithful. It became common practice by early M39 for new Lord Protectors to declare crusades upon their accessions, often targeting a specific xenos or traitor threat or even deciding on the goal of cleansing entire sub-sectors and sector of the enemies of man.

### The Millennium Crusade (001.M40-001.M41)

The now legendary Millennium Crusade that began in 001.M40 and ended in 001.M41, was the culmination of an ongoing internal debate on how best to defeat the Emperor's enemies. The idea of the crusade was mainly headed by Lord Protector Calleol the Prophet who claimed to have visions of the Primaris Angelus Mortis himself leading a legion sized force of Angels Mortis into a holy war against the despicable greenskins. And so when he rose to the position of Lord Protector in late M39 he gathered together the chapter in the Prima system and consolidated until the chapter was at full strength and in 001.M40 he launched his holy war, swearing an oath no to cease their crusade unless the Primaris Angelus Mortis himself told them to do so. The crusade would see the chapter travel from place to place killing Orks as they went, with their first engagement being a 70 year campaign in the Galleon Stars where the Angels fought a massive series of Ork Warbands that had been held within the stars and had been infighting for years. The Angels charged head first into the Galleon Stars and wiped it clean in a brutal war that saw the chapter go back and forth across the stars to kill all the xenos they could find. Day to day battles and engagements led to Brothers seeing barely any respite before charging into another conflict and purging the unclean. The Angels also took it upon themselves to eradicate any trace of the greenskins from each world they liberated, which contributed to the campaigns length and the subsequent lack of Orks within the Stars following the chapters exodus years later. From here the chapter burned a path throughout Segmentum Ultima and then down into Tempestus, they were both feared by the xenos they hunted and the imperials they came to aid as their reputation as fanatic blood crazed warriors spread quickly across the Imperium. Militarum and Navy staff did complain about the Angels Mortis, but due to the chapters excellent record and sheer effectiveness, they were ignored. As the crusade wore on the Angels ranks swelled to roughly 2000 marines as the chapter believed that the Primaris Angelus Mortis demanded they rebuild his legion for his mighty return.

Campaigns came and went with no sign of the Primaris Angelus Mortis, yet the chapters resolve and belief never stuttered as they continued on. By 332.M40, Lord Protector Calleol had been long dead and yet the same zeal that had driven the Prophet now drove the rest of the chapter onward. In 441.M40 as the worlds of the Amber Gulf burned in the wake of the Angels coming, the chapter changed its focus from the hated Orks to the traitors of the warp and the Fallen following a vision by Lord Sanctity Demneon Kross, who saw the Primaris Angelus Mortis striking down astartes clad in dark black armour. With this new focus the chapter rushed toward any sightings of traitor astartes and fully committed themselves to the hunt for the Fallen, aiding many fellow Unforgiven chapters in the process. The Saintwing and Purewing would taken charge of other elements of the chapter as they hunted down any and all sightings of the Fallen Angels. Due to the increased focus on hunting the most hated foe of the Unforgiven, the first and second companies were allowed to exceed their previous sizes to further help with the hunt. At its peak the Saintwing alone numbered nearly 200 Templars. This was all done as a way of expanding the pool of possible hunters to increase their ability to follow the guidance of the Primaris Angelus Mortis and track down and capture the Fallen. For those outside the High-Council, they saw action against traitor warbands and chaos corruption in all forms. The world of Batiana VIII was defended from an invasion by a chaos warband, whilst other elements of the chapter routed out chaos cults on the neighbouring world of Batiana V. This second phase of the crusade would culminate in the battle of Burning Skulls, where traitor astartes and some Fallen alongside thousands of cultists fought a brutal trench battle for their survival against the righteous fury of the Angels. This brutal slog saw the chapter throw its full might against the enemy lines until they yielded and were destroyed by the Angels Mortis.

Finally though the last phase of the crusade would begin in 989.M40 when Lord Protector Raziel Aralor received a vision in the heat of battle that told him to head for the Akriss system. When the chapter arrived they found a terrible sight, thousands of traitor guardsmen and cultists, hundreds of traitor astartes including Fallen and an endless horde of Daemons held up in a massive fortress complex known as the Crimson Bastion. Knowing this force could potentially overwhelm the local sector and more, the Angels Mortis committed the entire chapter to this single conflict with a warm storm soon enveloping the system. It is estimated the chapter numbered 2100 strong when they entered but only 700 Brothers and Templars would exit the system 12 years later. Those that survived claimed to have fought alongside their Primarch as well as the spirits of their dead first legion ancestors against endless hordes of warp spawn and heretics. On the Bridge of *Angelus' Fury,* the newly anointed Lord Protector Ferrolass Heldrick would declare the Millennium Crusade complete and the chapter would return to normal campaigning until the disastrous events of the War of the False Traitor. The victorious culmination of the Crusade would lead the Angels Mortis to believe they had completed a sacred mission ordained by the God-Emperors Angel of Death and they were now above all others thanks to their holy service.

### War of the False Traitor (680-683.M41)

#### Led Astray

The Angels Mortis had enjoyed an accepted status within the Unforgiven for the past millennia, having never become the most respected or notable of this hallowed order, but at the same time never being outright hated or despised. This was all despite their unusual beliefs which were tolerated by their brother chapters with many attempting to avoid them as much as possible but never truly questioning their loyalty to either the Imperium or the Hunt. However, in the late 600s of M41 the Angels Mortis would falter and be led astray, thanks to their nearly uncontrolled zealousness.

Lord Castellan Astelaeus Haradar alongside what was left of his mauled demi-company would arrive aboard the *Angelus' Fury*, requesting an urgent meeting with Lord Protector Zakaros Sammah where he revealed the testimony of a Fallen Angel. This confession claimed that a group of Fallen Angels had been secretly working alongside elements within the Ebon Angels, with aims to infiltrate and ultimately corrupt the Unforgiven as a whole. As Lord Castellan of the 2nd Company and commander of the Purewing, Astelaeus was no fool and the Lord Protector was very much aware of this and so took this confession before the High Council who ruled to keep an eye on this potential threat and not to act until its legitimacy could be ascertained as they were rightly hesitant to trust the word of traitors. It would be in 677.M41 that the next series of confessions were extracted as the Lord Protector and Lord Castellan Astelaeus came across a pair of Fallen who, following a lengthy interrogation, revealed both their nature as members from a clandestine group of Fallen known as the Black Guard and that they had been tasked with making contact with a squad of Ebon Angels in the near by system of Jerrim and who were sympathisers that would aid them in infiltrating fellow chapters via the connections of the Ebon Angels. This news alongside a series of other peculiar reports of the Ebon Angels activity, and them ignoring the Angel Mortis, within Segmentum Obscurus made the Lord Protector incredibly suspicious, with Lord Castellan Astelaeus stoking his beliefs thanks to his own first hand experiences with these Fallen.

In 679.M41 the last piece of evidence was found as the Lord Protector and Lord Castellan came across a group of 7 Ebon Angels acting alone and harbouring a Fallen Angel aboard their frigate the *First Blade*. The Lord Protector demanded that the Ebon Angels surrender themselves, their ship and their prisoner to the Angels Mortis for inspection and questioning, and when Paladin-Banneret Hezekiel unsurprisingly refused such an order, the *First Blade* was stormed by terminators of the Saintwing who killed a number of the crew and captured all 8 astartes. Lord Protector Zakaros immediately questioned all the captives, with the Fallen Angel confirming his suspicions whilst the Ebon Angels refused, now under the belief that these Ebon Angels would never allow their cover to be blown and were truly traitors to the Unforgiven, the Lord Protector personally executed all 8 astartes. Following this Zakaros would send an urgent astropathic message to the *Ebon Sepulchre* to draw the leadership of the Ebon Angels out where he could lay a trap for them.

Upon receiving a message asking for immediate aid with an ongoing Hunt, Grand Master Ezekiah alongside Lord-Master Akeon and the Brotherhood of Bone set off to the Dassor system. Arriving in the system they found a large element from the Angels Mortis chapter whose vessels seemed heavily damaged and running on emergency power. By request of Lord Protector Zakaros Sammah, Grand Master Ezekiah and an honour guard would head aboard the *Angelus' Fury* to discuss the supposedly disastrous affair that had taken place in the system, whilst Lord-Master Akeon would remain aboard the *Ebon Sepulchre*. Setting aside their usual suspicion of others, the chapter master and his honour guard boarded the *Angelus' Fury*, ready to give assistance to a fellow successor of the first, only for them to be met by 7 stakes each with a head atop them. Quickly the Lord Protector and terminators of Saintwing revealed themselves and declared the Ebon Angels *Traitoris Maximus* before opening fire and killing Grand Master Ezekiah and his entourage. As this happened the Angels Mortis fleet came to life and began bombarding and opening fire at the Ebon Angels fleet which took heavy losses in the opening moments before Lord-Master Akeon took full command of the fleet and pulled out of the system.

#### Escalation

With the command of the Ebon Angels wiped out, the chapter was left in turmoil and allowed to be guided by anger and vengeance. Lord-Master Akeon immediately sought out Supreme Grand Master Dorakiel of the Silver Lions for the aid of his chapter, whilst also sending coded astropathic messages to the Dark Angels informing them of the attack by the Angels Mortis. The Angels and Lions met aboard *Lions Wrath* where Akeon demanded that Dorakiel summon his entire Host and fight alongside their successors to wipe out the Angels Mortis. However, Dorakiel had not yet been blinded by anger and so first sought out a diplomatic solution to see if this was merely a misunderstanding, his diplomats were killed and the Angels Mortis sent a single message back to the Silver Lions that declared the bloodline of Decanius tainted and that it would be exterminated. As a response the Death Host would begin mustering and Dorakiel sent a summons to the Host of Storm to prepare to meet him whilst ordering the Ebon Angels to begin strikes and hit and run assaults on Angels Mortis recruiting worlds as well as holdings.

Lord Protector Zakaros however had, unbeknownst to the two chapters, abandoned their holdings in Segmentum Obscurus and were on course to Varian Prime the homeworld of the Silver Lions. Breaking warp in the Varian system the Lord Protector, alongside his 1st and 2nd companies as well as a retribution fleet of local PDF elements and a guard regiment, blazed towards the home of the Silver Lions. The Battle-barge *Mercy of Saints* would claim the first kill, destroying a frigate of the Silver Lions before bombarding the fortress complex of Silverguard on Varian's moon of Vera. As this happened the retribution fleet opened fire on the Fortress-monastery of Lions Watch as well as the city of Lions Landing destroying much before the defensive shields were made active. Once this occurred the fleet landed its forces, not aiming to lay siege to the immense mountainside fortress but to attack the lands of the Knightly Houses and crippled the recruitment capabilities of the Silver Lions.

Previously at the dawn of M40 the planet had also been attacked and from that battle the Silver Lions had formed the planets elite PDF known as the Varian Castellans and the moment this fleet had been detected the Castellan of Lions Watch, Master Elikas Vezon, had ordered the massive expansion of the Castellans allowing them to levy the armies of the Knightly Houses and ordered the opening of Lions Watch as a refuge and its stocks to bolster the planets defences. This meant that the population of Lions Landing and some nearby towns and hamlets were safely within the walls of Lions Watch whilst the massed ranks of the Varian Castellans were deployed across the planet. Therefore the fanatical followers of the Angels Mortis who had been swept up by rhetoric were massacred at the battle of Red Rivers, whereas the 47th Kreltian Hussars fared better at the siege of Wellans' Hall. However, battles where the Angels Mortis were present were massacres as their zealot-like frenzies cut through the ranks of the defenders without remorse, putting both towns and 'heretics' to the sword and burned by the flame. This brutal conflict would become known as the Butchering of Varian and ended once the forces that had been trapped in Silverguard broke out and landed planetside to devastate the remaining allies of the Angels as well as the sudden arrival of a enraged Supreme Grand Master Dorakiel and his entire Host of Death.

What was meant to be a lighting assault to destroy the next generation of Silver Lions had resulted in the loss of all the auxiliaries of the Angels Mortis, but with very light losses to the astartes complement the Butchering of Varian was seen as a success by the Angels Mortis. Yet it had only served to awaken a deep hatred and violence within the Silver Lions who now fully entered the war aside their successors, with Dorakiel ordering that no quarter was to be given and that where possible the full nightmarish power of the Dreadwing was to be used against the Angels Mortis.

#### Retribution

Full scale war ripped across the segmentum now as the Silver Lions, Ebon Angels and Angels Mortis did battle. This terrifying astartes warfare left planets ravaged and piles of dead on either side. In the void the *Ebon Sepulchre* would become known as the *Tenebris Somnum Exterreri* when referred to in code, due to the deadly toll it took on the fleet of the Angels Mortis. In the battle of the Haff Ice Field the *Ebon Sepulchre* fought alone against the *Mercy of Saints* and a small flotilla, with only the *Mercy of Saints* limping away from the ceaseless fury of the Ebon Angels Guns. With void warfare being the domain of the Ebon Angels it fell to the Silver Lions to battle the Angels Mortis on land, a task which they took to with hot vengeance in their hearts. On every world the Angels Mortis attempted to land on to gain recruits in their 'holy war' or resupply, they were met by the merciless guns of the Silver Lions who made every attempt to wipe out every Angels Mortis force they located.

Supreme Grand Master Dorakiel set up task forces to go out and find every recruitment world of the Angels Mortis and destroy them, as the memory of the Butchering was still fresh in the psyche of the Silver Lions. This full scale war was not something that the Angels Mortis were capable of winning as the Lord Protector well knew and his tactic of guerrilla warfare was failing horribly as the Firewing and Ravenwing of the Lions seemed to constantly know every movement of his chapter. As the casualties increased, Zakaros Sammah saw no other alternative than a final glorious last stand against the heretics of Decanius. Both he and the Lions and Angels had sent word of the war to the Dark Angels, both wishing for reinforcement from them and the wider Unforgiven, but the 1st had remained silent responding to neither side as the war came closer to its inevitable conclusion. Therefore, Zakaros planned to take his entire chapter to the Caliban system where they would make their last stand within the Mausoleum Caliban, on ancient rock that had once been Caliban, in the vain of the last days of the legion. Mustering around and within the Mausoleum, Zakaros summoned his remaining Lord Castellans where he would lay out the plans for their defence, but it was here that the Angels Mortis would be made aware of the true traitors.

Lord Castellan Astelaeus Haradar would rise to speak during the strategic meeting where in a laughing arrogant tone he would reveal his true nature as a Fallen Angel. The Fallen had captured the real Lord Castellan and through Daemonic favours had assumed the face of Astelaeus and having made friends amongst the Alpha Legion the Fallen had become skilled at subterfuge and infiltration. This was the final part of a century long plan to humiliate and sow chaos amongst the Unforgiven for their hunting of himself and his Brothers and his reveal was meant to be the final blow to the Angels Mortis who despite now knew the truth of their folly understood that the Silver Lions and Ebon Angels would not care and would simply massacre the Angels Mortis. The Fallen was killed on the spot, yet the damage had been done as the Silver Lions and Ebon Angels blazed towards Caliban.

#### Excommunication

When the Angels Mortis detected the enemy's arrival they were distraught at seeing how much their numbers had swelled by and knew that their final defiance would not be so glorious but instead a mere blip on the radar. Yet the Angels Mortis were denied their final act as the Silver Lions and Ebon Angels were being led by the Rock, and the Dark Angels summoned the entirety of the Angels Mortis, Ebon Angels and Silver Lions aboard to discuss these recent events. There was clear favouritism in this act though as the Dark Angels had clearly already chosen sides as when the Angels Mortis boarded in chains and without their weapons they looked on to see the Ebon Angels and Silver Lions who were being treated as honoured guests, given the privilege to bear their own arms aboard the ancient fortress monastery. The ensuing Treason Trials would discover the truth behind the war and how the Angels Mortis had been led astray through false confessions, planted agents and fabricated evidence, whilst absolving the Silver Lions and Ebon Angels of all wrongdoing. Lord Protector Zakaros would be declared a traitor alongside the entirety of the chapters command staff who were all executed in addition to a squad of Saintwing veterans who had heard of these planned executions and broken from their chains to aid their comrades, only to be met by the Angelwing and Silver Shields. The chapter's fleet was taken as forfeit with the Lions and Angels taking their pick of what vessels they wanted to replace those lost, as well as relics and armour.

Finally as a last humiliation the Angels Mortis were allowed to live, as the blame was put squarely on the failure of the chapters leaders, but they were to be Excommunicated from the Unforgiven for their complete failure to figure out the truth and declaring war on loyal chapters as well as bringing unwanted attention to the Unforgiven through their holy war. This in effect meant that the chapter would never be given aid by any descendants of the Lion, they were to be treated only with hostility and the chapter would never again be allowed to step foot within the Caliban system under pain of death. Those who rested in the Mausoleum Caliban were to be left untouched as they had died in loyal service to the Emperor and Lion but no new Angels Mortis would join their number and rest in the ancient site. All remaining members of the Angels Mortis also voluntarily forfeited their names as a sign of their failure to be exemplars of their faith, instead adopting numbers in their place. With the Treason Trials concluded the Angels Mortis were escorted from the system and left alone, as the Dark Angels, Silver Lions and Ebon Angels now had to deal with the clean up operation of the war, a decade long affair that saw the Silver Lions recorded as heroes who fought off a band of roving Alpha Legion insurgents bent on sewing unrest through the Sector, whilst the Dark Angels and Ebon Angels destroyed archives, killed witnesses and falsified documents to erase any truth behind this war.

### The Holy Pilgrimage

Broken, and with their spirit shattered, the Angels Mortis were left without command and with little equipment. Days went by as the remnants of the Angels Mortis looked for a path and argued with one another over what the chapter should do now. The question of command soon arose with many unsure of what the new goal of the chapter ought to be, until 228 came forth. Citing a vision he had been granted by the Emperor, he claimed that the chapter should make all haste to the Prima system, the hallowed site where the Millennium Crusade had begun and where 228 hoped to find some sort of inspiration for the chapter and his remaining Brothers. On their journey to the system the chapter recruited no new Brothers and took part in no engagements letting worlds burn as they headed single-mindedly to the Prima system and on their Pilgrimage they were stopped only once. This occurred when they ran into a Crusade of Black Templars who quickly sought to lend aid to the Angels and inquire about what had left the chapter so bloodied. 228 would say nothing of the recent war and instead lied saying they had been fighting a particularly ruthless Ork WAAAGH!. Clearly not satisfied the Templars nevertheless departed soon after, gifted the *Unrelenting Zeal* to the chapter as they did so. Finally, upon their arrival 228 would lead the entire chapter down to a ruined temple known as Prophets Hill, where all that remained of the chapter's old sepulchre was a weathered statue of the Primaris Angelus Mortis.

With no clear idea of what to do the remaining battle brothers began to kneel and prey before the ancient statue of their holy gene-father. Days passed, but as they did the true path became clearer to all present as they realised that they must pay true penance. This clarity came to them as ruins of the temple illuminated the fact that they had let corrosion and complacency take them, they had foolishly thought that the Millennium Crusade somehow made them above all others and that they had completed their true service to the Emperor. Much like how this temple had fallen into ruin, so had the chapter, and now they would seek to right their wrongs and rebirth the chapter in holy penance for their now eternal sin of turning on brothers.

### Repentance

Starting by rebuilding the holy temple at Prophets Hill, and then going out to aid all the faithful of the Emperor no matter the foe or the request, the chapter would seek to find the road to redemption. Throwing themselves into crusades, sieges and nearly every warzone they could find, the Angels Mortis slowly began to find their previously lost zeal as these wars went on. It was quickly decided that the old institutions of the chapter were no longer useable for the taint of shame that was carried by the Saintwing and Purewing. As such, these wings were preplaced by the Penitantwing, which for a time contained all members of the chapter until active recruitment was restarted and more Brothers were entered into the chapters ranks, and at that time the Flagellatewing was founded.

The chapter would also stop hunting the Fallen and slowly remove the knowledge of the Fallens existence to only the highest echelons of the chapters command structure. This decision was made as 228 believed that their excommunication removed their right to take part in the hunt, and so it would be improper to continue the sacred task without the consent of the Supreme Grand Master, although the knowledge of the Fallen and the events surrounding the destruction of Caliban would remain within the High-Council. With the slow rebuilding of the chapter the Angels Mortis solidified their new worldview of repentance and the need for forgiveness in the eyes of the Unforgiven, and so the chapter would continue its fight against mankind's foes without question and with relentless fury.

The chapters culture would take a turn in this period as 'Lord Protector' 228 completed the *Rules of Repentance*, a now holy tome that instructed Brother and Templar alike in how they should seek to gain penance for the chapters past sin. This coincided with the first sightings of the chapters second flaw, the Scorn of Thyself, which began to develop within many of the Penitantwing. Similarly many of the once stalwart Penitantwing found themselves within the ranks of the newly formed Zealot Squads which saw its highest numbers ever, as many fell to the chapters primary flaw, the Honour of Melee. The Angels Mortis also deliberately stayed away from warzones where Unforgiven chapters were operation, as it was 228's belief that their presence would bring needless complications and anger. Instead the began to focus on tackling what they perceived as the most deadly threats possible, threats that others would shirk from facing or be unable to. This developed out of the need for penance and the growing idealism of martyrdom which contributed to the chapter undertaking almost suicidal campaigns. The Battle of Redene II, which saw 'Lord Protector' 228 die, was undertaken by only three companies and saw them face off against the largest Ork WAAAGH! that the Fallkriss Sector had seen in several centuries. Subsequently, the chapter sustained high casualties as well as the loss of 228 and was only won when the rest of the chapter under Lord Castellan Vallian Moore arrived to relieve the remnants of the the companies.

With the death of 'Lord Protector' 228 in 802.M41, his chosen successor Vallian Moore would take up the mantle of Lord Protector and continued the chapters course of unrelenting fury against mankind's foes. He would make further changes to the Angels Mortis as well, forming the Angelus Guard, whilst also re-committing the chapter to its oaths with the Deathwatch, sending off 10 Brothers in 898.M41 as a sign that the chapter would fully honour its pledge to serve the long vigil. With Vallians new leadership the chapter was able to somewhat temper itself and control its wrath, bringing an end to the erratic behaviour of the past centuries.

#### The Era Indomitus

As the end of the 41st Millennium approached, Lord Lexicanum Ophanus Inardain began receiving visions that saw the Angels Mortis fighting alongside their fellow first legion successors in a brutal last stand. These visions were noted in the *Liber Prophetia* and were discussed by both the Lord Sanctity and Lord Lexicanum, but they proved too vague for a true meaning to be derived, and so this vision was forgotten and the chapter continued on its endless crusade through the Imperium. This was until the Cicatrix Maledictum tore the galaxy in half, and suddenly every Brother-Lexicanum saw the same vision of the Angels Mortis fighting a last stand alongside astartes in black and bone armour as well as those in black and yellow. This final stand took place just before the Primaris Angelus Mortis appeared in the skies above the three chapters, before the vision ended in an intense golden light.

Both the Lord Sanctity and Lord Lexicanum agreed on the meaning and validity of these visions and informed Lord Protector Vallian Moore, where they explained what they had seen, which were two chapters of the Unforgiven, one unmistakably being the Ebon Angels and the other unknown. Upon hearing of the visions, Vallian headed to the archives of the High Council to find out who these warriors in black and yellow plate might be. The archives held what was left of the chapter's records during their time within the Unforgiven and though it was a small collection it did still include a list of all active Unforgiven chapters, and soon Vallian discovered an entry regarding a wayward chapter called the Sable Pride, who were active within an area of space known as the Pontifex Cluster in the far north-east of Segmentum Ultima. Conferring with the rest of the High Council, Vallian would decide to take the entire chapter to the distant Pontifex Cluster, where they planned to fight alongside the Sable Pride and the Ebon Angels.

The journey to the Cluster was perilous to say the least, with the tumultuous nature of the warp slowing travel as well as being met by massive chaotic resistance as they made their way. Crossing into Imperium Nihilus the Angels Mortis would be further thrown off course and slowed down, soon being forced out into an embattled imperial warzone within the Jarian System. Here the Angels decided to lend their aid to the outnumbered Imperial defenders, by assaulting the traitorous fleet and dropping several companies down to the Agri-World of Harkons Landing, where they battled chaos cultists and astartes alike. However, it soon became apparent that the chapter was fated to arrive in this system as a splinter element of the Indomitus Crusade would soon arrive in the system and was able to inform the Lord Commander of the chapters presence, which resulted in the Primaris contingent of the Angels Mortis being dispatched to Harkons Landing. With bolstered numbers, the Lord Protector soon renewed the journey to the Pontifex Cluster and would arrive there in early 006.M42 to add his forces to the Imperial war effort under the command of Grand Marshal Sephram of the Sable Pride.

#### The Pontifex War

Entering the Pontifex Cluster in 006.M42, Lord Protector Vallian Moore would immediately seek counsel with the Imperial Commander of the forces within the cluster which led him to the *Supreme Judgement*, fortress-monastery of the Sable Pride. The immense fortress was surrounded by Imperial Navy and chapter vessels, dedicated to the protection of the Imperial headquarters which had been placed aboard the *Supreme Judgement* due to its size, facilities and defensibility. Vallian was surprised when his fleet was hailed first and was not ignored or fired upon, as dictated at the Angels Mortis Treason Trials, with Grand Marshal Sephram himself demanding to know who had entered the system and why. Soon finding himself aboard the mighty *Supreme Judgement*, Vallian would explain his chapter's reasoning for being within the Cluster, much to the annoyance of Sephram. Vallian explained the visions his brothers within the librarius had received and that he hoped to forge the alliance highlighted within the visions. However, the Grand Marshal would be hesitant about such an arrangement, distrusting the Angels Mortis’ superstition and their past failures which caused their excommunication. And although Sephram had no love of any of the Unforgiven, he didn't like having a chapter come unannounced to his Cluster, and begin interfering with his operations.

As such, Sephram decided that the over strength Angels Mortis would be best suited to patrolling the Vanguard Worlds, the name for the defensive line that straddles the Britifore-Nathgrim border, and was both without astartes support and under risk of attack by the likes of the Orks and Tyranids. Vallian was initially unhappy with this due to the visions showing the chapters fighting beside one another, not half a sector away, but the Grand Marshal ignored his protests and ordered him to comply or else. The barely veiled threat was understood and the chapter soon made its way to the Vanguard worlds, eager to not anger those the Emperor intended them to be great allies with. Despite the less than amicable welcome, the Sable Pride did send the Angels Mortis to the Vanguard Line with an Attaché to help them in their defence of the Britifore Sector due to the Angels lack of expertise in siege warfare. Seneschal Ackiel of the 3rd Company serves as this expert Attaché and his mission is to help school the chapter in the gruelling art of siege warfare.

Arriving at the Vanguard Worlds, Lord Protector Vallian Moore was faced with two obstacles, first the immediate defence of a battle-line that went across the length of the Britifore and Nathgrim Sectors joint border, as well as the proper integration of his Primaris element, who had so far adopted the colours, heraldry and most rudimentary chapter practices, but had yet to fully adopt the word of the Primaris Angelus Mortis.

#### A Saddening Schism

With the arrival of the Primaris marines from the ranks of the Unnumbered Sons, there arose a serious issue, their lack of piety. This was a major issue for the Angels Mortis though upon their arrival the Angels had to simply integrate them as quickly as possible into the chapter as they blazed a path to the Pontifex Cluster. It wasn't really until the establishment of their command over the Vanguard Line that the problem of their lack of faith came to the forefront of the chapters issues. These 'Greyshields' who had joined the chapter at Harkons Landing had been exposed to the old tenants of the Imperial Truth in their past lives and many simply didn't view the Emperor as a God, and few saw the Primarch Guilliman as an Imperial saint. Tasked by Vallian Moore personally, it became Lord Sanctity Baratiel Asmons mission to fully indoctrinate all those Primaris that had joined the chapter into the ways' of the Angels Mortis. It began with the widespread adoption of both the Rules of the Self and the Rules of Repentance, which after many fiery sermons by the Lord Sanctity, many came to adopt. Soon the word of the Primaris Angelus Mortis was accepted by many of the Primaris, who were in truth eager to adopt their parent chapters ways in order to feel accepted and truly become Angels Mortis. However, not all would accept these so called 'truths', doubt infected these disbelievers and every effort to convince them has failed. This group numbers just under half of the entire Indomitus contingent who have now rejected the gospel of the chapter. The Lord Sanctity has simply been left enraged by their blasphemy even ranting that they have lost the right to bear the name Angels Mortis. These brothers have been shunned by most of the chapter and are often assigned the most difficult missions, in-which it is not uncommon for key officers to meet unaccepted ends. This unfortunate state of events is what detains the chapter even while they protect the vital Vanguard Line, and has troubled the mind of the Lord Sanctity since the beginning of this crisis.

## Notable Campaigns

* **The Righteous Crusade (120-159.M38)** - As the first engagement of the young chapter, this crusade dominated the early years of the Angels Mortis as they carved a bloody path across Segmentum Obscurus in their mission to hunt and destroy a series of warbands that had been marked by the Inquisition as a serious threat. Starting in 120.M38, within Segmentum Obscurus, the Angels Mortis would burn the rebelling world of Kerth, killing a number of traitor astartes from one of the nine chaos warbands that the chapter was tasked with hunting down and destroying. This pattern of heading wherever one of the warbands was operating would see the chapter and wider Crusade force run around Segmentum Obscurus, fighting brutal naval engagements like the Battle of Holden's Veil as well as planetary engagements on worlds such as Oldis. Their campaigns would soon lead to a siege within the Zedriss system where they were met by the Ebon Angels. Here the Ebon Angels would discuss their intent to join the Righteous Crusade and lend their aid to the ongoing war effort, with Warmaster Seleucian fully agreeing to their offer of assistance. With more astartes to prosecute the campaign, the Imperials quickly began to make progress and by 132.M38, they had destroyed all but one of the warbands marked by the Inquisition, the Scarlet Blades. However, the outnumbered and shattered warband was reinforced by the forces of Lord Hirat Bloodmoore who launched a massive counter-crusade into Segmentum Ultima and was initially victorious against the back footed Imperials who suffered a major loss in 137.M38 when Lord Protector Darrian Kelt was slain by Lord Hirat Bloodmoore on the planet of Galilee IV. Following this the Imperials were reinforced by several chapters, including the Dark Angels and remainder of the Ebon Angels chapter. Now with the newly appointed Lord Protector Ormael Meneral leading the chapter and fresh reinforcements the Imperials began to gain victory after victory against Bloodmoores' forces but a long war of attrition would begin as the Angels and their allies first surrounded Bloodmoore and then began to slowly box him in. This bloody phase took decades of bloody battles and heroic actions, but would culminate in the Battle of Traitors Peak where Lord Protector Ormael would avenge his predecessors death by slaying Lord Hirat Bloodmoore. With this apocalyptic battle over the Righteous Crusade was officially brought to an end and the chapter was enrolled into the ranks of the Unforgiven.
* **The Silencing of Outpost Bravo-311 (295.M38)** - This was the chapters first engagement whilst hunting the Fallen, and saw the chapter chase their quarry all the way to an Imperial outpost on a mining world in the extreme edges of Segmentum Pacificus. Here the Fallen had entered the outpost in hopes of hiding from the Angels, but was sorely mistaken as the zealous Saintwing deployed to the outpost and wiped out all life within it, soon finding the Fallen in the midst of the massacre.
* **The Cleansing of Heresy (324-331.M38)** - Acting alongside other Imperial forces, including the Black Templars, the Angels Mortis would embark upon a campaign of extermination to cleanse a sector of those the Imperium had declared to be heretical. Most of the information around this campaign is heavily redacted by Imperial decree and as such very little is known about the campaign itself.
* **Orlis Rebellion (634-639.M38)** - The Orlis Sub-sector chose to rebel against the Imperium following the continued lack of aid when requested by the populous of Orlis who were facing major piratical and Ork attacks. It would be a young officer of the Imperial Navy who would disobey orders and take control of the various PDF ships and defeat the Pirates in a single engagement. This sparked a widespread belief that the Sub-sector was better off on its own and entirely capable of ruling itself, though the Imperium would disagree and dispatch the Angels Mortis to make an example of the Sub-sector. Four companies of the chapter would answer the call and begin cleansing the Sub-sector of these renegades, often whipping out entire populations whilst keeping the infrastructure of these worlds intact for their future replacements. This process was lengthy and would culminate in the Devastation of Orlis Ultima where the Angels Mortis would descend upon the world and wipe out its entire population with bolters and flamers, hive city by hive city, which took nearly two years to complete.
* **Marcean Civil War (900-905.M38)** - A known recruitment world of the Angels Mortis, this Hive World would fall into civil war following a succession crisis and resulted in the chapter being forced to interject themselves into the ongoing war upon their arrival to pick up recruits. The chapter would arrive in late 904.M38, and decided to choose the side that was already wining, thusly they launched a lightening assault on the headquarters of the opposing side, wiping out their candidate for leader as well as their bloodline and government, quickly ending the war.
* **Battle of Gradin Prime (210.M39)** - Assailed by Drukari raiders, the Imperial world of Gradin Prime sent out a request for aid which the Angels Mortis eagerly answered with the full might of the 4th company. The 4th company quickly dealt with the raiders, but would soon turn their guns upon the planet below when a series of chaos cults were discovered by the chapter during the victory celebrations held by the Planetary Governor in honour of their saviours. Upon discovering the cults, Marshal Haldion Dallioth executed the planetary governor for dereliction of duty and led his brothers down into the under-hives of several cities in what would become a 4 month purge operation.
* **The Bleeding (546-547.M39)** - The Angels Mortis were requested to aid in the defence of the Okeon Sub-sector following the start of a major Hrud migration through the sub-sector. Three companies would initially be dispatched to defeat the Hrud, though it soon proved necessary to send more, with the entire chapter soon being engaged within the sub-sector. The campaign to defeat the Hrud was brutal with the sub-sectors capital world being destroyed in a temporal rift before the Hrud were finally defeated, though it had been costly to the chapter.
* **Fall of the Etrisian System (821.M39)** - The densely populated Etrisian System would find itself under attack from an Ork WAAAGH! and despite the presence of elements of the Angels Mortis 6th company, the system was quickly overrun and taken as a fief of the Ork Warboss.
* **The Etrisian Crusade (823.M39)** - Following the death of Lord Protector Ackamore Aissen, the newly anointed Lord Protector Ezekaeus Thror would declare a crusade to avenge the dead of the 6th company and retake the Etrisian System. The subsequent campaign was spearheaded by the 6th company and saw brutal fighting throughout the three inhabited worlds of the system, and two devastating naval engagements where the Angelus' Fury decimated the Ork fleet piece by piece. In the end, the system was retaken and its populace liberated from their greenskin overlords.
* **Millennium Crusade (001.M40-001.M41)** - Fuelled by visions and dreams of the Primaris Angelus Mortis leading the chapter and his gene sons in a holy crusade to banish heretic and greenskin alike, this crusade was started by Lord Protector Calleol in 001.M40. The chapter marched throughout the Imperium killing any and all they found, sparing none in their war even ignoring other Imperial forces in the name of crusading. The first years were spent in the Galleon Stars purging the disunited Orks against the will of local commanders, causing as much confusion as destruction whilst they tore a bloody path through the Stars. From there the Angels went across the Imperium never ceasing and following the same doctrine of seek and destroy. The Angels carved through any and all greenskin holdings, burning away their impurity once the battle was won and then moving on to fight any other Orks that dare step foot in the God-Emperors realm. Lord Protector Calleol the Prophet would die on one of these Xenocides in 194.M40 as his boarding team was cut apart by the Orks of the space hulk *Inglorious Ruination*. This loss led to his successor declaring a continuation of the Millennium Crusade, which began the tradition of continuing this crusade until its eventual end in 001.M41. Following visions by Lord Sanctity Demneon Kross, the focus of the crusade shifted to hunting chaos forces and the Fallen in an attempt to fulfil these new visions of the Lord Sanctity. To this end the Angels Mortis threw aside the restrictions of the Codex Astartes and expanded their numbers to just over 2000 battle-brothers, and as they did this they aided a number of Unforgiven chapters in their hunts for the Fallen. The chapter spread itself across the galaxy on their hunt and in their fury to capture those who had laid the Primaris Angelus Mortis low, they killed any and all that got in their way. In 774.M40, the Imperial defenders of the world of Calintia found themselves under attack from xenos and the Angels Mortis once it was made clear that the defenders were being aided by a Fallen Angel. The Crusade would culminate in the most brutal battle fought by the chapter, the Storming of the Crimson Bastion, which for the Angels Mortis was a 7 day siege that saw constant fighting on all fronts with no lull in the battle. When the Angels Mortis arrived in the Akriss system following a vision from the Lord Protector they attacked the massive fortress complex known as the Crimson Bastion, hoping to destroy this den of traitors before they broke out into the wider Sector. But as soon as the first companies of the chapter made landfall the system was encompassed by a warp storm, only increasing the Daemonic forces arrayed against the Angels. The chapter then deployed their entire host to the siege as their fleet rained death from above to cover their brothers below. On the ground the battle soon centred around three points, the gorge on the left flank, the approach to the gates in the middle and the bone field on the right flank. Fighting in the gorge resulted in the complete loss of the 16th Company who were wiped out as they attempted to first advance and when they were pushed back, defend the area. Brother-Castellan Jollas Archan would call for a direct bombardment of the area as he and his 3 brothers were the last of the 16th to survive the horrific fighting and he was acting Lord Castellan of the company. With the bombardment wiping the field clean for the advancing 14th Company, the simultaneous attacks through the bone field saw the loss of the entire 9th Company’s armour contingent alongside heavy casualties in the 5th Company. The approach to the gates was the most heavily contested region as the Daemons sallied forth from the Bastion whilst the traitor marines opened fire from afar. Multiple attempts were made to even reach the gates yet each failed and cost more lives, with the Saintwing paying an especially high toll. 6 days of massacre continued, with the Lord Protector being killed on the 2nd day and command of the chapter completely falling apart as those appointed to replace him were killed in the fighting. The 7th day of the battle is based entirely off of the accounts of the survivors of the battle who swear the following occurred. Firstly, the champion of the 3rd Company, who had been in the thick of the fighting never letting his blade cease killing began to glow with a golden light with ethereal gold wings spreading from his back whilst his sword shone bright white. At the head of the chapter's force attacking the main gates, the Primaris Angelus Mortis himself appeared, leading a host of spirits clad in the armour of the legion calling out for vengeance. The Primaris Angelus Mortis spoke not a single word, and yet rallied the whole chapter to his side as he charged the gates and shattered them with his sword of black. Fallen brothers arose to continue fighting whilst the champion of the 3rd Company continued his holy slaughter of the heretics. The resulting massacre saw the chapter kill everyone they came across, from Daemon to traitor astartes, and cultist to slave.
* **Burning of Sacredhelm (320.M41)** - Answering the call to defend the Cardinal world of Sacredhelm, the 7th Company arrived to aid the defenders from the ongoing Ork assault. However, another force soon entered the engagement killing Orks and Imperials alike, the new arrivals revealing themselves as Dothanes Pride. These traitors to the Unforgiven killed almost everything on the planet and killed eighty of the ninety-four Brothers deployed to Sacredhelm, with the survivors later being found buried below a collapsed cathedral.
* **War of the False Traitor (680-683.M41)**:
	+ **Ambush in the Dassor System (680.M41)** - Lord Protector Zakaros Sammah finally believed he had all the evidence to condemn the Ebon Angels chapter as traitors to both the Primaris Angelus Mortis and the Unforgiven, having already captured a group of Oath Sworn Hunters from the chapter and executed them. He lured Grand Master Ezekiah of the Ebon Angels and elements of his Brotherhood of Bone into the Dassor system where Zakaros had his fleet act as though they were severely damaged by having many of the ships appear to be running on low power. Claiming they had been attacked and needed immediate aid Ezekiah led his forces to the Dassor system and with his Angelwing and a number of officers he departed the Ebon Sepulchre and boarded the *Angelus' Fury*. Arriving aboard the fortress-monastery, Ezekiah was met by the severed heads of his brothers, Lord Protector Zakaros and the terminator clad Saintwing who denounced Ezekiah and his chapter before killing all the Ebon Angels aboard the vessel. Shortly after the fleet throw off their guise and opened fire on the Ebon Angels ships. The *Ebon Sepulchre* took the brunt of this fire, but thanks to the expertise of Lord-Master Akeon, the fleet was largely able to escape the system with minimal casualties.
	+ **Butchering of Varian (681.M41)** **-** Following the Ambush in the Dassor System as well as some minor skirmishes with the Ebon Angels, Lord Protector Zakaros Sammah sought to deal a mortal blow to the newest participant in the war, the Silver Lions. Zakaros planned to do this by launching an all out assault on their homeworld of Varian Prime, hoping he could devastate the sole recruitment world of the Silver Lions. Accompanying him would be the entirety of the Saintwing and Purewing as well as local PDFs and a guard regiment that the Angels Mortis convinced to join their holy crusade against traitors and heretics alike. Entering the system, the retribution fleet would quickly head to Varian Prime and its moon of Vera and soon enough battle commenced with the first kill being claimed by the Angels Mortis battle-barge *Mercy of Saints*. Soon after the Silver Lions fortress complex of Silverguard on the moon of Vera was bombarded by the Mercy of Saints, forcing those Knights and Paladins within the fortress to wait out the attack, whilst some elements of the Purewing attempted a ground assault on the fortress complex, using the orbital bombardment as cover. This attack was an utter failure, as although the fortress was under fire, its mighty void shields held out and as such the defenders were completely in tact when the Purewing made their attack. However, the main battle would take place down on the planet of Varian Prime itself as the Angels Mortis chose to pin down the small Silver Lions force within the fortress-monastery of Lions Watch, whist the rest of the force ravaged the countryside and the lands of the Knightly Houses. To this end the defence of the wider planet fell to a handful of Silver Lions squads as well as the PDF known as the Varian Castellans. The Castellans proved invaluable against the mortal auxiliaries brought by the Angels Mortis who were largely made up of Pilgrims, ill-equipped/trained PDF regiments and a sole guard regiment. Against the Varian Castellans who were maintained by and occasionally trained by the Silver Lions, these militias were thoroughly out-matched leading to great victories such as the Battle of Red Rivers, the Siege of Wellans' Hall and the Defence of Darkmire, which saw the utter annihilation of what remained of the previously successful 47th Kreltian Hussars. However, wherever the Angels Mortis were present they massacred the defenders of the planet, as despite the skill of the Castellans, they were no match for the Angels Mortis. The Planets chief defender, the Castellan of Lions Watch, would be killed by the Angels Mortis whilst defending the walls of Lions Landing. With the Angels Mortis gaining many victories and destroying great swathes of the planet, Lord Protector Zakaros deemed the endeavour a victory and quickly led his forces away from the planet as the Death Host under Supreme Grand Master Dorakiel arrived to reinforce their homeworld. Despite being a victory for the Angels Mortis it would prove to be a mistake as it caused the Silver Lions to full commit three of their Hosts to the war effort.
	+ **Fall of Angels Landing (682.M41)** - Assailed by elements of both the Ebon Angels and Silver Lions, the chapters recruitment world of Angels Landing stood very little chance of surviving the assault. The chapter keep of the Sanctum Angelus was obliterated from orbit following infiltration by Firewing operatives from the Silver Lions, lowering the keeps void shields, and allowing the wrathful Ebon Sepulchre to lay waste to the keep. The planet was defended by a demi-company force under the command of Brother-Castellan Jamaniel Kalkon, though it took heavy losses following the destruction of the Sanctum Angelus and was finally destroyed as they made a last stand at a small town where the Silver Lions Stormwing massacred them.
	+ **Confrontation at Caliban (683.M41)** - Sustaining a string of defeats after two years of skirmishes and void engagements, the Angels Mortis retreated to the Caliban system where they hoped to fight a glorious last stand within the Mausoleum Caliban. It would be here though that Lord Castellan Astelaeus Haradar would reveal his true nature as a Fallen Angel and the folly of the chapter would become known. With little they could do to stay the hand of either the Ebon Angels or Silver Lions, the Angels Mortis awaited in the Mausoleum until they were contacted by the newly arrived Dark Angels.
* **The Slaughter at Xantia I (690.M41)** - Having fallen following the emergence of a Necron Dynasty, Xantia I was seen as a worthy proving ground for the eager members of the newly formed Penitantwing to prove their piety and contrition. Led by 083, just over one hundred and fifty Brothers ploughed into the metal defenders in an attempt to butcher and massacre the abominations. Steered by anger and sorrow rather than strategy and good sense, the entire force was slaughtered on the killing fields of Xantia I and became the largest loss of Brothers in a single engagement since the harrowing battle to cleanse the Crimson Bastion.
* **The War of Holy Wrath (734-736.M41)** - Led by 228, the entire Penitantwing headed to the rebelling Sector of Haldrotha and engaged the rebels there. The rebels were eviscerated by the Angels and their cities left blasted and dilapidated in the wake of the chapters wrath. Such was the devastation caused by the Penitantwing, the Imperial commanders and generals refused to work alongside the Angels Mortis and sent a complaint to the High Lords of Terra.
* **The Battle of Redene II (802.M41)** - Fought against the Orks of WAAAGH! Gazbasha, the Angels Mortis deployed three companies to the defence of the Hive World of Redene II and were successful in defending the Hives and defeating the WAAAGH!. However, 'Lord Protector' 228 would fall in the final battle of the campaign at the hands of the Warboss Gazbasha, as 228 was lured into a duel and killed by the Warboss before he himself was killed by the vengeful Penitantwing.
* **The Fallkriss Uprisings/Fallkriss Crusade (802-804.M41)** - As the first engagement of Lord Protector Vallian Moore, this campaign was a crusade in which the entire chapter participated and saw them put down the Fallkriss Uprisings. The uprisings were a series of rebellions within the Fallkriss Sector as a direct result of the turmoil and discontent caused by WAAAGH! Gazbasha. Subsequently, the Angels Mortis deployed to put an end to the rebellions with the fighting becoming incredibly brutal as elements of the local navy joined the rebellion. Victory would eventually be gained by the chapter thanks to an assault by the Penitantwing upon the rebel capital of Garlons' Well which saw the massacre of the entire cities population for their failure to remain faithful.
* **The Defence of Harkons Landing (003.M42)** - Arriving in the Jarian system following a turbulent journey through the warp, the Angels Mortis quickly went to the defence of the Agri-world of Harkons Landing which was under attack from traitor forces. During their defence of the world, elements from the Indomitus Crusade would arrive to add themselves to the planets defence and would send word of the Angels Mortis chapter to the rest of the Crusade. This led to the chapters Primaris contingent being dispatched to the Jarian system to join the rest of the chapter.
* **The Pontifex War/Pontifex Crusade (005.M42-Present)** - Imperial forces under the command of Grand Marshal Sephram of the Sable Pride have found themselves spread thinly across the various fronts within the Pontifex Cluster due to the serious lack of manpower required to properly defend these fronts. The unexpected arrival of the Angels Mortis did however allow for further astartes support and the chapter was quickly deployed to the Vanguard Line to defend those worlds from encroachment by either the Tyranids or Orks that battle one another in the Nathgrim sector. Despite the seeming impossibility of the task at hand, Grand Marshal Sephram did launch the somewhat successful Strentmoore Expansion (005-011.M42) which saw new gains in the Strentmoore Sector as systems were liberated from the control of xenos and traitors alike. However, this offensive was forced to halt as the Ptolemnii Dynasty arose in the southern parts of the Britifore Sector, a new warzone that Sephram eagerly sent the Ebon Angels to fight in, but at the cost of the offensive having to stop. With threats ranging from Tyranids to newly emerging Necron dynasties, the Sable Pride now has its work cut out as it heads down a path of death by a thousand cuts, as Sephram is under no illusions that his current forces are insufficient for the myriad of enemies that assail the Cluster.
	+ **The Ptolemnii Front (011.M42-Present)** - Given command of the front by Grand Marshal Sephram in an attempt to rid himself of the Ebon Angels prying eyes, Lord-Master Forrik has taken to his command with a stern mindset of ending the fighting on this front as quickly as possible so he might fully commit to his task of investigation. In the meantime, fighting against the Necrons has yielded bloody battles and seen the guns of the Thunderwing reap terrifying numbers as they relentlessly wipe out Necron holds and bases, with their allies such as the Imperial Guard often being left behind as the Ebon Angels advance through the destruction. In the void, *Paladins Honour* has found itself at the head of an Imperial flotilla which it has used to battle the unyielding Necrons on every occasion it can.
	+ **The Vanguard Line (006.M42-Present)** - With the unexpected arrival of the Angels Mortis chapter shortly after the main Imperial reinforcements, Grand Marshal Sephram would meet with Lord Protector Vallian Moore aboard the *Supreme Judgment*. Here he was faced with a new issue, as the Angels Mortis were unable to fight alongside the Ebon Angels as Lord-Master Forrik stated he would 'kill any of those damn zealots' within his sight. As such Sephram decided on tasking the Angels Mortis with the defence of the Vanguard Line, which is a series of Fortress and Garrison worlds that straddle the Britifore-Nathgrim border and had until now been without large-scale astartes aid. The Angels Mortis would accept this decision and head off to the Vanguard Worlds where Lord Protector Vallian Moore now oversees its defence from both Tyranids of the Nathgrim Splinter Fleet and Orks alike, as their duel spills over into the Britifore Sector. With the planet of Barbican Alpha being the sight of a year long siege as the Orks of WAAAGH! GitRippa have attempted to break into the mighty planets defences, but have only been met by the stalwart defenders of the Imperial Guard and Angels Mortis. In the void the Angels have been met with great success as they have torn shreds out of the Ork fleets that assail them, with help from the Imperial Navy as well. In fact many Brothers of the chapter relish the idea of being posted to the fleet so they might take part in the viscous ship-to-ship boarding actions that are common in the ongoing naval war, whilst compared to the monotony of siege warfare.

## Chapter Recruitment Worlds

* **Prima I** - The hallowed site where the legendary millennium crusade was launched from, this rocky and bleak world is home to a small but robust human population that learned to survive the harsh climate of their homeworld. Prima I was not initially adopted as a recruitment world prior to their Excommunication, and was instead held as simply a place of religious significance that companies might make journeys to. However, this would change following the Excommunication and the Holy Pilgrimage, as the chapter would head down to the sanctified Prophets Hill and begin to pray for guidance. Once their prayers were completed and a new course charted, 'Lord Protector' 228 would establish Prima I as a new recruitment world following the devastation of many of the chapters other holdings and for a time was the only active recruitment world until contact was re-established with High-haven and Saintia. A notable location on the planet is Prophets Hill where a massive stone wrought statue of the Primaris Angelus Mortis stands, dominating the hilltop, whilst just behind it stands the Sepulchre Clemencia, a modest chapel of simple stone that was built by the hands of those who accompanied 228 down to the surface. This modest and fragile exterior hides the entrance to a massive underground bunker complex that shares the name of the chapel above.
* **High-haven** - High-haven is a forest moon orbiting a dead and blasted world known as Ollions Folly, or simply Folly, and is another recruitment world used by the Angels Mortis. Due to its relatively obscure nature as a backwater recruitment world, High-haven was spared from the fury of the Unforgiven and as such its population and chapter keep remained in tact and so was one of the first recruitment worlds to be re-adopted by the chapter following the Holy Pilgrimage.
* **Saintia** - An oasis planet of scorching deserts and small bodies of water, Saintia is a harsh place to live for those who call it home, yet the indigenous population perseveres never the less and provides a fantastic recruitment pool for the chapter. Saintia was another of the handful of worlds spared during the War of the False Traitor and as such was easily re-integrated into the chapters recruitment practices once the Angels Mortis re-commenced recruitment.
* **Angels Landing (No longer in use)** - The planet of Angels Landing was a lush and verdant world, that produced some of the finest recruits that ever entered the ranks of the Angels Mortis. Its great plains were dominated by the Sanctum Angelus, a great edifice of piety and dedication, that acted as the chapter keep upon the planet, and was considered the greatest Cathedral Fortress ever to be constructed by the chapter, with its first stones being set by Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis himself. Unfortunately this world and its great keep were subjected to the wrath of the Silver Lions and Ebon Angels during the War of the False Traitor, with its landscape ravaged and the Sanctum Angelus reduced to nought but ash and rubble by the guns of the *Ebon Sepulchre*. Following the war the planet was deemed no longer suitable for meeting the recruitment needs of the chapter and was soon abandoned.
* **Marcea** **(No longer in use)** - Having been in use by the chapter since M38, the Hive World of Marcea would suffer a civil war during mid-M38 which forced the chapter to intervene and end it. Otherwise the planet proved to be useful though it would be abandoned in late M39 for unknown reasons.

## Chapter Culture

**Names** - Amongst the Angels Mortis the awarding of a second name is considered to be a great right reserved for those who have truly adopted the teachings of the *Rules of the Self* and proven to be exemplars of the Angels Mortis, with this practice most likely been adopted in veneration of the Adeptus Custodes own practice although on a smaller scale. This is because upon completing ones service as a Ward, the newly risen Brother will discard his old name and take on a chapter name, and should that Brother prove himself through dedication to his faith and service to the God-Emperor he will receive a second name in a grand ceremony. Therefore the loss of a name is considered to be a great shame to the Angels and was one of the first tenets decreed by 'Lord Protector' 228 who deemed all of those who had fought in the War of the False Traitor had failed to be exemplars of their faith and would forfeit their names as a result.

**Relics** - The Angels Mortis take solemn pride in their care over a vast number of 1st legion relics that they have travelled across the Imperium to collect and recover. These relics are seen as direct links to both the Primaris Angelus Mortis and to their ancestors in the 1st as well. The relics hold such importance to the chapter that when not at prayer, battle or in training, the Brothers and officers of the chapter will go to the reliquaries and clean these holy artefacts as none are kept in stasis fields as they are instead meticulously maintained by the chapter. Most of these hallowed relics are kept safe within the Sanctus Reliquia aboard *Angelus' Fury*. Unlike within other chapters, the relics of the First Legion that are uncovered are never used in war for the Angels believe that they are not worthy to use such ancient and sacred items and that it would bring needless danger to the relics that they hold so dear. Failure to protect or save a relic is rare, but on the few occasions it has occurred the Brother responsible was exiled or executed so he might be judged by the Primaris Angelus Mortis himself.

**A Dedication of the Day** - As a direct teaching from the *Rules of Repentance*, a dedication of the day sees the battle-brother swear to dedicate himself to a single task over the course of a terran standard 24 hour period, whether this task be to win a battle or train ones abilities is up to the individual battle-brothers. Some Brothers choose to dedicate themselves to killing as many foes as possible before battle or perhaps that they shall make sure every shot is a kill shot. When a Brother announces his dedication he writes it down on paper and has it attached to his armour using wax, and if possible, will make sure a Brother-Sanctity is made aware of his dedication. There is no reward for the completion of a dedication as the knowledge of completing a goal should be reward enough for the Brother. Failure though, is met with scorn and will usually see the Brother go to a Reclusiarch to receive punishment, the punishment is left to the Brother-Sanctity's discretion and he will take into consideration the severity of the failure and the difficulty of the chosen dedication. Brother-Sanctity's are exempt from this ritual as their permanent dedication is to keep safe the will and spirit of their chapter and make sure none falter.

**The Caliban Pilgrimages and The Mausoleum Caliban** - Prior to the chapters excommunication from the Unforgiven, the Angels Mortis made a pilgrimage every century to the Caliban system, where they would entomb their dead within an asteroid sepulchre known as The Mausoleum Caliban. Here all the fallen warriors of the Angels Mortis are laid to a final rest, close to the homeworld of the holy Primaris Angelus Mortis himself so they might be close to him in death and be swiftly taken by their father to the Emperors glorious side. The Mausoleum Caliban itself is an asteroid that was once part of Caliban itself and was hollowed out by the chapter with great shrines and crypts being built into it, as well as a grand hall able to fit a full 1000 astartes. The grand hall was the location where the chapter would conduct the Gloria et Mortem Ceremony, which included the reading of every fallen battle-brothers name as well as a prayer to both the Emperor and Angelus Mortis, followed by a feast in honour of the dead. The Gloria et Mortem Ceremony would conclude the pilgrimage and the chapter would then go back to battling the enemies of the Imperium. Following the excommunication though, this hallowed event would no longer be carried out because the chapter was banned from the Caliban system under pain of death. As such the Angels Mortis have taken to placing their dead in the crypts beneath the Cathedral of Reordinations aboard the *Angelus' Fury*, which were previously used as a temporary resting place before the pilgrimage to Caliban. As for the Gloria et Mortem Ceremony, that sacred event has been stopped entirely and will only be continued once the chapter has been forgiven, as until then none within the chapter are worthy of their sacred right.

**Crusades** - A tradition born out of the chapters first engagement, the act of crusading is a sacred form of warfare that often requires most if not all of the chapter to partake. It is the duty of every Lord Protector upon their accession, to declare a chapter wide crusade to defeat a particular foe of the God-Emperor. More often than not these crusades take the form of vengeful campaigns against those who were responsible for the death of the previous Lord Protector, though this is more of a tradition than a requirement. Crusades can only be declared by the order of the Lord Protector himself, with the High-Council restricted to an advisory role as it is the Lord Protector alone who decides the scope and length of a crusade. For example, upon rising to the position of Lord Protector, Vallian Moore ordered the Fallkriss Crusade with the aim of putting down the ongoing rebellion within the sector. The chapter is currently engaged in what they themselves refer to as the Pontifex Crusade, as Vallian Moore declared a crusade to aid the defenders of the Pontifex Cluster which allowed him to move the entire chapter without question to the Britifore Sector.

## Chapter Beliefs

The Angels Mortis are an incredibly devout chapter that worships the Emperor as a god and view their primarch Lion El'Jonson as his first saint and greatest son. Although they see all the loyal sons of the Emperor as the first imperial saints, crafted in the Emperors image, the Primaris Angelus Mortis embodies the Angel of Death and his role is to guide loyal servants and sons to the Emperors side, yet when he walks the earth it is to meet out unwavering retribution on behalf of the glorious dead, as the God-Emperors indefatigable champion of war. The chapter places great importance on the idea of being a continuation of their fathers role as the Angel of Death, and have taken to purifying and exterminating all the foes they come across leaving no trace of their taint behind and offering no mercy to them. This is to show that they are the Emperors most deadly and effective champions in the same way that the holy Primaris Angelus Mortis was when he walked the earth. The Angels also only refer to their primarch by his honorific, Primaris Angelus Mortis, viewing his true name of Lion El'Jonson as the common peoples name for him and see the honorific as the embodiment of his saintly duty as the first angel of death. They have been known to become insulted when astartes of their own bloodline 'dishonour' their father by calling him The Lion, seeing it as beneath them and a failure to recognise the Primaris Angelus Mortis' role to the Emperor.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The Angels Mortis are descended from the Primaris Angelus Mortis and although his gene seed is considered amongst the purest available, the Angels Mortis suffer from two known flaws. The first is known as The Honour of Melee and the second the Scorn of Thyself. Both of these flaws are psychological in nature, but investigations early in the chapters history, by Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis and Lord Medicae Jarriell Kiell, were unable to discover an exact cause of the Honour of Melee.

* **The Honour of Melee** - This flaw has been with the chapter for the longest and has its roots deep within the chapters history. The flaw is believed to be of psychological nature as studies by Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis and Lord Medicae Jarriell Kiell discovered this deficiency within their brothers and found that some brothers had a side effect making them more susceptible to the chapters psycho-conditioning used in the training of a battle-brother. This leads to some brothers being more vulnerable to the teachings of the chapter, taking them in a more literal meaning which is made worse by the teachings veneration of melee combat in both practical warfare and as the most holy of combat techniques, with the Primaris Angelus Mortis always being shown wielding a mighty sword of black. The flaw is not widespread throughout the chapter and only effects a small number of astartes every generation. But for those who are Affected the brothers will descend through three known stages:
	+ **Stage 1 (Distant for Artillery)** - This early stage often manifests amongst those who fight alongside vehicles and artillery, though this is not the sole requirement for the flaw to manifest. Brothers in this stage will begin to view such weapons as cowardly and a sign of unwillingness to fight the enemy face to face.
	+ **Stage 2 (Hatred of the Bolter)** - Manifesting usually after a Brother has had his weapon fail on him or run out of ammo, the Brother will begin to consider his bolter to be a hindrance and liability as it could fail on him at any time. He will begin to use his sword or other melee weapons more and begin to favour it more and more, though if ordered the Brother will still begrudgingly make use of his bolter and ranged weapons.
	+ **Stage 3 (Glory of Steel)** - Finally the Brother views all forms of ranged weapon as cowardly and unbecoming of a true warrior, he seeks solace in fighting his enemy in the glory of close combat and will throw down his bolter, plasma gun and even flamer in favour of his melee weapons. The few Brothers who reach this final stage are formed into Zealot squads and are only equipped with the melee weapon of their choice. These squads will be placed at the head of any engagement so they may deliver a devastating first attack. Outside of combat they are ill at ease and simply await their next deployment, often spending most of their time in the training halls duelling until their next battle.

Prior to the Excommunication, the Angels Mortis kept the Honour of Melee a closely guarded secret and viewed those who fell to its final stage as unbecoming of the chapter and to have failed their role as both guardians and emissaries of the Faith. This stemmed from the inherent impurity within the flaw as well as the Brothers inability to do anything other than fight effectively, meaning they were unable to properly follow the teachings found with the *Rules of the Self* which were considered sacred and incredibly important to their adherence to the Imperial Creed. As such Brothers who fell to the final stage were forced to either take their own lives, so they might be judged by the Primaris Angelus Mortis, or to find an honourable death in the next battle they were involved in. Failure to do this would result in the Brother being forced to take their own life anyway. It wasn't until the sweeping reforms of 'Lord Protector' 228, that the Honour of Melee was finally accepted by the chapter and those who fell to the Glory of Steel were instead viewed as enthusiastic zealots, eager to find redemption in martyrdom. This came about as 228 rebuilt much of the chapters psyche and the *Rules of Repentance* took seniority over the *Rules of the Self*, and all this led to the formation of the Zealot Squads.

* **Scorn of Thyself** - This is a far more recent development within the chapter and unlike the previous flaw will affect all battle-brothers as they are indoctrinated into the chapters beliefs and begin to study both the *Rules of the Self* and *Rules of Repentance*. This flaw causes Brothers to become overly critical of themselves, questioning many actions and constantly referring to these two hallowed tomes for guidance and answers because they view themselves as flawed due to the events of the War of the False Traitor, leading them to doubt their judgement. As they learn of the need for the repentance of the chapter the battle-brother will view his life as merely a way of regaining the honour of the chapter and will begin to see the ultimate sacrifice of his live as a way of repenting for the chapters past grievances. This has led to an ideal of martyrdom within the chapter as Brothers seek to die in courageous acts, defending the subjects and lands of the God-Emperor so they might absolve the chapter of its sins.

## Chapter Organisation

### Officer Ranks

* **Lord Protector** - Chapter Master equivalent.
* **Lord Castellan** - Captain equivalent.

### Specialist Ranks

* **Lord Sanctity** - This is equivalent to the Master of Sanctity in other chapters, with the Lord Sanctity being one of the most influential members of the chapter as he is considered the living voice of the Primaris Angelus Mortis.
* **Brother-Paramount** - Prior to the Excommunication, the Brother-Paramount fulfilled the role of Interrogator-Chaplain and was considered the veteran status of a Brother-Sanctity. The rank was abandoned at the same time the chapter left the hunt for the Fallen.
* **Brother-Sanctity** - Chaplain equivalent.
* **Lord of the Fleet** - An honorific given to the Lord Castellan most skilled in void warfare, and gives him seniority in naval engagements over other Lord Castellans.
* **Lord Lexicanum** - As head of the chapters librarians, the Lord Lexicanum works closely with the Lord Sanctity in order to read messages and visions from the Emperor and to figure out their true meaning.
* **Brother-Lexicanum** - Librarian equivalent. Brother-Lexicanums of the Angels Mortis are quite susceptible to visions, which are often somewhat prophetic and have been interpreted as the God-Emperor and Primaris Angelus Mortis speaking directly to the chapter.
* **Lord Medicae** - Head of the Apothecaries of the chapter, the Lord Medicae is considered the best in his field and is the one expected to tend to the wounds of the Lord Protector and other high ranking individuals within the chapter.
* **Brother-Medicae** - Apothecary equivalent.
* **Lord Adept** - As head of the chapters forge, the Lord Adept is often preoccupied with the simple task of acquiring vehicles for his chapter Brothers to make use of, let alone overseeing the repair of existing ones, and he will often go out on pilgrimages to forge worlds or nearby industrial centres in order to request equipment. Prior to the Excommunication, one of the most important tasks for the Lord Adept was to oversee the recovery expeditions of relics or ancient artefacts of the 1st Legion. The Lord Adept is also the warden of the Sanctus Reliquia, the chapters foremost reliquary aboard the fortress-monastery, *Angelus' Fury*.
* **Brother-Adept** - Techmarine equivalent.
* **Angel-Blade** - Champion.
* **Standard** - Standard bearer.

### Line Ranks

* **Templar Castellan** - Honorific used to denote a Sergeant of the Flagellatewing and Penitantwing companies.
* **Templar** - Honorific used to denote membership of the Flagellatewing and Penitantwing companies.
* **Brother Castellan** - Sergeant.
* **Brother** - Battle-Brother.
* **Ward** - Scout.
* **Neophyte**

### Specialist Units and Formations

* **Saintwing (No longer in use)** - Originally this wing represented the elite terminators of the first company whose task was to hunt the Fallen and to make up the chapters terminator complement. However, following the Excommunication of the chapter from the Unforgiven the Saintwing, for actions unbecoming of the 1st company, was disbanded and its Lord Castellan was executed.
* **Purewing (No longer in use)** - Similarly to the Saintwing, the Purewing is no longer active and was previously the chapters equivalent to the Ravenwing of other Unforgiven chapters. The Purewing was disbanded following the Excommunication and its vehicles and equipment were stripped from them, leaving the wing as a distant memory.
* **Penitantwing** - Taking the place of the disbanded Saintwing, the Penitantwing forms the veteran first company of the chapter but does not field terminator armour as their entire stock of such suits was taken from them by order of the Dark Angels. The Penitantwing instead acts as a primarily melee focused force who go into a mad frenzy to kill the enemies of the Imperium so they might restore their chapters honour. The wing is also far different than a normal company as following the Excommunication all remaining Brothers of the Angels Mortis were entered into its ranks with each new member giving up their name, taking up numbers as their designations for the rest of their lives. Membership of the Penitantwing is restricted to only those Brothers who fought in the War of the False Traitor, with new members only being allowed entry once the last of the original members is dead. As of 006.M42 there are 36 members of this wing still alive from the original 529 Brothers and these Brothers are led by 341, as the title of Lord Castellan has been revoked for the Penitantwing.
* **Flagellatewing** - Becoming the new 2nd company that replaced the Purewing, the Flagellatewing takes up the position of mobile hunters making use of whatever vehicles they can get their hands on, however they favour lightening attacks and as such the company is made up of assault squads. The wing was established as the chapter began to rebuild following its pilgrimage and was formed from the next generation of astartes as no member of the Penitantwing would ever be allowed to enter its ranks.
* **Angelus Guard** - Formed by Lord Protector Vallian Moore upon his accession, this elite squad of ten Templars acts as the honour guard of the Lord Protector and are his sworn guardians during battle. Vallian created this order of warriors due to the lack of an elite honour guard within the chapter, which he saw as a key reason for the death of his predecessor. Prior to this units formation the Angels Mortis made use of no official honour guard, with the Lord Protector merely choosing a squad from the chapters elite Saintwing to accompany him into battle.
* **Zealot Squads** - Formed under the purview of 'Lord Protector' 228, the Zealot Squads created a home for those who reached the final stage of the chapters primary flaw, the Honour of Melee. These squads are deployed in the forefront of any engagement and are used as a devastating shock force to augment the non-specialised companies of the chapter. The Brothers within these squads will chain their weapons to them in a similar act to the Black Templars, so they might never be without their favoured weapon. These squads number a handful at most due to the relatively low numbers of Brothers who actually reach the final stage of the flaw, with many of those afflicted remaining in the second stage.

## Deathwatch Service

Deathwatch service is viewed with pride by the Angels Mortis as it is a chance to spread the word of the Primaris Angelus Mortis and hone ones abilities for fighting the hated xenos. However, following the Excommunication the chapter halted all offerings to the Deathwatch as the chapter single-mindedly focused on reasserting themselves and their place within the Imperium. It wouldn't be until 898.M41 that the chapter would recommence sending Brothers to serve vigil in the Deathwatch, with members of the Penitantwing being refused this honour.

## Chapter Combat Doctrine

"*Fire is the greatest ally of the faithful.*"
—Lord Castellan Brential Dorron on the topic of combat doctrine
Fire and steel are the hallmark of the Angels Mortis combat doctrine, with cleansing fire to burn away the first ranks of the enemy before the Brothers of the chapter can get in blades reach of their enemy and the chapters elites also favour Lightening Claws as the preferred melee option in any engagement. The Penitantwing fight exclusively in melee combat and due to their small size they always deploy themselves alongside the Flagellatewing. Similarly to the 1st Company, the Flagellatewing fights predominantly in melee combat as it makes use of assault squads but also lighter vehicles, such as land speeders or attack bikes, to augment their devastating shock assaults. Within the rest of the companies, flamers are often the favoured weapon of specialists and tactical squads, though the meltagun is also beloved, and these companies often make use of what few heavier vehicles the chapter possesses to provide a more balanced force, when compared to the highly specialised wings. As such the chapter as a whole prefers to get in close to its enemy so it can deliver the most devastating attacks possible against the foe.

## Notable Members

* **Lord Protector Darrian Kelt** - Darrian Kelt was the founding chapter master of the Angels Mortis and was key in its adoption of the Imperial Creed and was influential in the formation of the unique version followed by the Angels Mortis. The Lord Protector would meet his end during the Righteous Crusade, falling as he valiantly duelled the chaos lord Hirat Bloodmoore as he defended a church of the Emperor.
* **Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis** - As the second Lord Sanctity in the Angels Mortis history, Israfil Lionis would be incredibly influential and the reason for the many of the long standing traditions and beliefs that the chapter holds. It was Israfil who began to influence the chapters view of the Imperial Creed to focus on the Primaris Angelus Mortis and he would help Lord Protector Ormael Meneral write the *Rules of the Self*. Whilst his early years were filled with glorious victories and shows or faith in battle, the last years of the Lord Sanctity would see him focus on refining the chapters recruitment practices, as well as visiting every recruitment world of the chapter to make sure they were followers of the faith. Israfil would die on the journey back from one of these missions during a surprise Ork Freebooters raid, on his Strike Cruiser, *Chosen Servant*. In death his name lives on as a great hero of the chapter and the exemplar of the position of Lord Sanctity.
* **Lord Medicae Jarriell Kiell** - As a close friend of Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis, Jarriell would help him to investigate early manifestations of the chapters flaw, The Honour of Melee, though their research would ultimately be inconclusive. Jarriell was however the first holder of the position of Lord Medicae within the chapters history.
* **Lord Protector Ormael Meneral** - Second holder of the title 'Lord Protector', Ormael would be the one to help both solidify the chapters new view of the Imperial Creed and enter the chapter into the ranks of the Unforgiven. Following the aftermath of the Righteous Crusade, Ormael would dedicate himself fully to the hunt for the Fallen as he led the Saintwing on countless hunts during his long life, though this would eventually lead to his death at the hands of Cypher whilst attempting to apprehend him.
* **Lord Protector Calleol the Prophet** - Rising to the position of Lord Protector in late M39, Calleol Idolcian would receive visions of a glorious crusade that the Primaris Angelus Mortis himself wished for the chapter to embark upon and under Calleols leadership it would. Calleol would be responsible for the launching of the Millennium crusade in 001.M41, but would not live to see its end, dying early on during the crusade in 194.M40 aboard the space hulk, *Inglorious Ruination*. His influence within the chapter would be immense despite his relatively short reign and he would eventually be given the title of Prophet following the final miraculous engagement of the Millennium Crusade.
* **Lord Protector Zakaros Sammah** - As the Lord Protector of the Angels Mortis prior to and during the War of the False Traitor, Zakaros Sammah led the chapter in its defeat against fellow Unforgiven chapters resulting in the Angels Mortis being shamed, dishonoured and excommunicated from the Unforgiven. Alongside the rest of the chapters High Council, Zakaros was executed aboard the Rock in front of his brothers for high treason against the sons of the Lion and, known only by the Inner-Circles of the Unforgiven, cooperation with the Fallen.
* **'Lord Protector' 228** - In the aftermath of the Treason Trials and execution of Zakaros along with the entire high command structure of the chapter, 228, would take up the position of Lord Protector although without the official title. He would take the chapter on its pilgrimage to Terra and the world of Prima V, whilst also penning the *Rules of Repentance*. It would be 228 who took the Angels Mortis down the path of penitence and would change the chapters psyche to one of seeking forgiveness for their past sins. 228 would lead the chapter until his death in 802.M41 when he was succeeded by Lord Protector Vallian Moore. Despite never officially undergoing the ceremony of becoming a Lord Protector and actively decreeing that he was not so, out of respect and admiration many within the chapter still choose to refer to him as Lord Protector 228. Like many of the survivors of the War of the False Traitor, the original identity of 228 is largely unknown and it is believed he may have been nothing more than a simple battle-brother before the Excommunication.
* **341** - 341 is the current leader of the Penitantwing, all 36 of them, and is considered to be the greatest swordsman in the chapter as he wields *Mortis* with unparalleled skill. Although as one of the survivors of the War of the False Traitor he now seeks absolution by dying in the Emperors wars yet because of his skill he has met no equal on the field of battle forcing him to remain as commander of his forsaken brothers. Like all the survivors of the War of the False Traitor, 341 abandoned his chapter name and adopted a number instead with his former identity unknown to his modern brothers outside of the Penitantwing, though speculation is rife on the subject as many subscribe to the idea he was the chapters Angel-Blade thanks to his immense skill.
* **Lord Protector Vallian Moore** - By the standards of other chapters Vallians age of 300 would be considered incredibly young to take up the position of Lord Protector following the death of 228, but 228 had been grooming Vallian for the position as his prodigy of sorts, and in his final years had also decreed that no member of the Penitantwing would ever be allowed to be Lord Protector and that his term had been as a necessary interim and not as a Lord Protector. Vallian Moore has proven himself completely over the course of his tenor as Lord Protector through both his devotion to the new teachings of the chapter and in combat where he leads from the front with his signature lightening claws *Saint and Sinner*. His decision to take the chapter to the far flung Pontifex Cluster, came about from the visions told to him by the Lord Lexicanum and the Lord Sanctity. Upon hearing of these visions and, in secret, being visited by the Primaris Angelus Mortis during one of his rare moments of sleep, he knew he had to go to the Cluster. Whilst deployed here, Vallian has attempted to repair the damaged relations with the Ebon Angels and create a new one with the Sable Pride, though so far these efforts have achieved little, Vallian is still determined to forge a working relationship with the two chapters. Vallian has also been given command over the whole Vanguard Line in order to bolster its defences, though the Pride did send an attaché to aid the Angels due to their lack of siege warfare experience and knowledge. This aid has been readily welcomed by Vallian and he continues to fight on the Line, killing any who would attempt to desecrate the holy lands of the Emperor with the fury of the Primaris Angelus Mortis.
* **Lord Sanctity Baratiel Asmon** - Rising to his position in 842.M41, Baratiel had shown himself to be a dedicated and fervent believer in the tenants of the *Rules of the Self* and the *Rules of Repentance*, proving his dedication to the chapters beliefs. As a Brother-Sanctity he was remorseless against his foes and understanding towards his brothers, helping them to follow the more strict examples of the chapters newer traditions. With all of this in mind it was perhaps no surprise that Baratiel would succeed his predecessor, 091, and become the new Lord Sanctity and wield the mighty *Flail of Israfil* into combat against the Emperors foes. Since his rise to office, the Lord Sanctity was instrumental in the chapters move to the Pontifex Cluster as he and the Lord Lexicanum deciphered the many visions plaguing the Brother-Lexicanum of the librarius. Whilst deployed on the Vanguard Line Baratiel has focused most of his time on the immense task of indoctrinating the Primaris into the Angels Mortis' views on the Imperial Creed and has had some success, though many still remain sceptical.
* **Lord Lexicanum Ophanus Inardain** - As the current Lord Lexicanum, Ophanus is the most powerful psyker within the chapter and is often crucial in the decoding and understanding of visions that his Brother-Lexicanums often have. It was Ophanus and Lord Sanctity Baratiel who helped the Lord Protector decide on venturing to the Pontifex Cluster. Currently deployed with the rest of the chapter on the Vanguard Line, Ophanus has perhaps found it the most difficult thanks to the shadow in the warp cast by the Tyranids of the Nathgrim Splinter Fleet that the chapter battles, though he has not allowed this to effect his duties to the God-Emperor and the Primaris Angelus Mortis.
* **Lord Adept Cassiel Hannibus** -Replacing Lord Adept 442 in 899.M41, Cassiel would take over from his mentor and carry on in many of the same tasks that his predecessor was required to do in light of the chapters diminished stocks and armouries. These tasks involve scouring battlefields for usable wreckage or abandoned vehicles that might be put to use by the chapter, as well as pilgrimages to forge-worlds to bargain for supplies in exchange for military aid from the Angels Mortis. Because of all this Cassiel is one of the best Adepts the chapter has ever had and his ability to refurbish equipment and vehicles is legendary, as where one might see a simple crumpled chassis, Cassiel sees the next Rhino that will enter service to the Angels Mortis. After arriving in the Pontifex Cluster Cassiel quickly took a frigate and departed the chapter fleet to go to the forge-world of Erodin II where he hoped to negotiate the supplying of the chapter as the Sable Pride had done long ago for themselves, and more recently the Ebon Angels as well. He would unfortunately be disappointed thanks to the immense stress the mighty forge-world was already under as Erodin II not only acts as the Britifore Sectors primary shipyard, as such the home of Battlefleet Britifore, but also supplies the regiments of the Imperial Guard as well as two adeptus astartes chapters. All this whilst only receiving limited shipments of material from the Ore Belt sub-sector which is required to feed the forge-worlds foundries, and with the rise of the Ptolemnii Dynasty the Ebon Angels' and Necrons' battle around the Ore Belt has limited the shipments able to leave the sub-sector. Due to this the forge only offered minor services like the supply of ammunition and was unable to offer new ships or vehicles and so once more Cassiel has found himself forced to scrape the battlefields of the Pontifex Cluster to rearm and re-equip the Angels Mortis for war.
* **Lord Medicae Kazrean Magras** - Kazrean Magras was recruited from the world of High-Haven and showed early signs of his great acumen for medical studies and was quickly selected for Medicae training. As a Brother-Medicae Kazrean distinguished himself many times and was one of those Medicae who attempted to save the life of the crippled and dying 'Lord Protector' 228, and although 228 was far too injured for anything to be done for him, Kazreans failure still haunts him. It would be in 932.M41 that Kazrean would finally become Lord Medicae and has proven himself to be an exemplar of the position. However, the recent arrival of the Primaris has put his faith to the test, as all brothers of the Angels Mortis Medicae are taught of how the God-Emperor crafted perfection in the adeptus astartes by his own hand and for a priest of mars to claim to improve upon that work has been viewed as sacrilege. As such Kazrean is not only weary of the Primaris, but also sceptical of their superiority, whereas others within the Medicae have simply comforted themselves with the idea that Belisarius Cawl must have been visited by visions from the Emperor allowing him to craft the Primaris.
* **Lord Castellan Brential Dorron** - Brential Dorron is the second ever Lord Castellan to command the Flagellatewing, succeeding his Predecessor Vallian Moore in 802.M41, and has helped forge the wing into the finest assault specialists to ever serve the chapter. His favoured weapon is the Thunder Hammer *Thunderous Judgement*, which he wields with devastating effect against the ranks of the Emperors foes.

## Chapter Fleet

This is a list of some vessels known to be in the service of the Angels Mortis.

* ***Angelus' Fury (Victory-Class Battleship)*** - As the fortress monastery of the chapter, *Angelus' Fury* is a vessel of immense power that has been greatly modified by the chapter to be filled with holy places, shrines and sepulchres all of which are shrouded in darkness with only candle light providing illumination and incense filling the air. The greatest of these places of worship is the Cathedral of Recordationes where the deeds of past Angels Mortis are recorded and celebrated, additionally the bodies of the chapters recent fallen are kept in the crypts below the Cathedral as it is hoped that they may one day lay aside their ancestors in the Mausoleum Caliban. The entrance to the Cathedral of Recordationes features a grand precession known as the Walk of Saints, where statues of all the Imperial saints are located as well as each of the Emperors loyal sons. Additionally *Angelus' Fury* houses the Sanctus Reliquia, the foremost of the chapters reliquaries and the location where all the uncovered 1st Legion relics are housed.
* ***Blade of the Angelus (Battle-Barge)*** - Having entered into the chapters fleet part way through the Righteous Crusade, this ancient vessel has been with the chapter since is earliest days and as such features many of the alterations common amongst ships of the Angels Mortis. It has a great cathedral like chamber where whole companies can prey in at once, as well as an assortment of temples and a crypt for the recently slain, where they are held until they can be transferred to the *Angelus' Fury*. As luck would have it the *Blade of the Angelus* would survive the Treason Trials thanks to the belief that the ship had been destroyed in an earlier battle, instead it was merely crippled, only limping into the Caliban system just as the chapters were departing. Since then it has become the hammer of the Angels Mortis fleet, eager to repent for the chapters sins by throwing itself into battles with nothing but righteous wrath in its heart.
* ***Purity in Death (Strike Cruiser)*** - Currently in use by the 3rd company.
* ***Word of the Prophet (Strike Cruiser)*** - Currently in use by the 4th company.
* ***Chosen Servant** **(Strike Cruiser)** -* Once used by Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis, this Strike Cruiser is the pride of the 5th company.
* ***Unrelenting Zeal (Lunar-Class Cruiser)*** - In the aftermath of the War of the False Traitor the Angels Mortis travelled across the Imperium to the world of Prima I, but as they did so they ran into a Crusade of Black Templars. Encountering their allies the Black Templars were astonished to see the badly mauled chapter limping its way through Imperial space and attempted to lend them aid, though the Angels initially refused. Seeing the half destroyed state of the chapters fleet, Marshal Alexfried Arnro opted to at least offer a vessel to help the Angels Mortis, which after much talk between Marshal Alexfried and 228 was accepted. This vessel was their own recently acquired *Lunar*-Class Cruiser, *Unrelenting Zeal*. Since its gifting the ship has remained a sacred and important part of not only the fleet but also the wider chapter as a sign of the continued friendship between the Angels Mortis and the Black Templars.

Destroyed or lost:

* ***Mercy of Saints (Battle-Barge; Destroyed)*** - *Mercy of Saints* was the only other Battle-Barge in service to the Angels Mortis throughout their history and took part in a number of notable engagements such as the Butchering of Varian and the War of the False Traitor where it was heavily damaged. As such, in the subsequent Treason Trials, neither the Ebon Angels or Silver Lions laid a claim to the ship due to said extensive damage. However, the *Mercy of Saints* would be abandoned in the Prima system as due to the Pilgrimage there the already severe damage was exacerbated and the ship quickly began to fail and then fell into the orbit of Prima I and soon crashed to the surface. Following its loss the wreckage was taken apart and used for repairs to other ships within the Angels fleet.
* ***Black Castellan (Strike Cruiser; Confiscated)*** - This Strike Cruiser was awarded to the Ebon Angels during the Treason Trials aboard the Rock and was therefore stripped from the service of the Angels Mortis, with the ship eventually meeting its end in the Pandessa War. Prior to this event *Black Castellan* had served faithfully with the chapter for many centuries as a key vessel in service to the 4th Company.
* ***Righteous Deliverance (Strike Cruiser; Confiscated)*** - Serving from the founding of the chapter all the way to the War of the False Traitor, *Righteous Deliverance*, was a battle hardened vessel that had long served the Saintwing. However, due to its victories in the War of the False Traitor it suffered little damage and was therefore claimed by the Silver Lions during the Treason Trials in the Caliban system and has since been renamed to *Knight of Caliban*.

## Chapter Relics

* ***Rules of the Self*** - Penned by Lord Protector Ormael Meneral, this tome of holy scripture outlines how an Angels Mortis must conduct himself in all aspects of life and service to the Emperor as well as the goals he should strive to achieve. The chapter viewed the teaching of this holy tome as a strict guide to how they should adhere to the Imperial Creed and how they might follow the word of the God-Emperor. Prior to the Excommunication this tome was read by every Brother and viewed as almost law, but following the Excommunication this scripture took a back seat to the newly penned *Rules of Repentance*. This revision of the *Rules of the Self*, led to the tome loosing its previous importance and instead becoming a relic of a far more glorious era, as now the Angels Mortis seek not just to exemplify their faith but also to atone for their sins of fratricide.
* ***Rules of Repentance*** - Penned in the aftermath of the Excommunication by 'Lord Protector' 228, this work outlines how each Angels Mortis should attempt to regain the favour of the Primaris Angelus Mortis and the Emperor through their own penitence. It was essentially a revision of the Rules of the Self, intended to help guide Brothers into properly repenting for their recent sins and how to understand the now very different world they found themselves within. Where once the Unforgiven was viewed as a fellowship of equal brothers, it was now seen as a consecrated organisation that the chapter was not worthy to join but should strive to. The tome outlines actions Brothers should undertake to seek penitence in the eyes of the God-Emperor and Primaris Angelus Mortis, and how to interact with Unforgiven battle-brothers should they come into contact with them under circumstances such as service within the Deathwatch.
* ***Liber Prophetia*** - This tome is a collection of all holy and prophetic visions had by the Lord Lexicanum as well as select Brother-Lexicanums, with the tome itself being consider incredibly sacred as it is seen as the direct word of the Emperor and the Primaris Angelus Mortis. The *Liber Prophetia* is also used by the Lord Sanctity and Lord Lexicanum to make predictions as to what they believe the will of the Emperor is and what direction the chapter should take.
* ***Mortis*** - Considered to be the greatest of the chapters relics the blade, *Mortis*, is an incredibly deadly weapon with its blade edge known to burn the skin of warp abominations and traitors before it has even made contact with them whilst its presence alone unnerves disbelievers and heretics alike. This immense power is believed to come from its many blessings at the hands of cardinals, chaplains and even an Ecclesiarch but ancient records suggest that the blades forging caused this weapon to become the bane of every traitor although what hints have been found in the records fail to shine any truth on the matter.
* ***Saint and Sinner*** - This set of custom lightening claws are the chosen weapons of the Lord Protector and have served him well as Vallian Moore is famous for his love of melee combat, often leading straight from the front with *Saint and Sinner* to wield against the degenerates before him.
* ***Flail of Israfil*** - As the mark of office for the Lord Sanctity, the *Flail of Israfil* is named for Lord Sanctity Israfil Lionis who is a famous figure in the chapter and considered the first to speak the truth of the Primaris Angelus Mortis. The flail itself is a deadly weapon known to have particular effect against warp spawn.
* ***Will of the Angelus*** - In service to the Angel-Blade, this massive Eviscerator chainsword is the bane of any who oppose the Angel-Blade with their lives ending both quickly and brutally upon facing the weapon. Its exact provenance is not fully known with accounts suggesting it was a gift from either a crusade of the Black Templars or an Order of the Adepta Sororitas sometime in M37.
* ***Thunderous Judgement*** - This ancient two handed Thunder Hammer has been with the chapter for millennia and was the favoured weapon of the first Lord-Protector, Darrian Kelt, though his successor preferred the blade *Mortis* and so it fell out of favour. *Thunderous Judgement* remains in use today though, with Lord Castellan Brential Dorron of the Flagellatewing wielding it into combat.
* ***The Unsullied Standard*** - Found within the long abandoned halls of an ancient 1st Legion ship that was discovered by the chapter sometime in M38, the standard itself displays the heraldry of one of the Orders of the old legion. Since its discovery the relic has been meticulously restored and maintained so it might forever display the honour of the chapters ancestors.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The colours of the Angels Mortis are bone and white. The Aquila, shoulder pad trims, squad markings, backpacks, helmets are all white whilst everything else is bone coloured. Membership of the Penitantwing and Flagellatewing is denoted by the wearing of white robes over their armour, as well as their companies heraldry which for the former is a shattered winged sword that is missing half its blade and the latter a winged flail. The chapter colours are meant to represent one of the visual incarnations of the Primaris Angelus Mortis, who is sometimes depicted as a ghostly lion made of the bones of the Emperors favoured dead, with a white mane that shows the purity that guards the sacred dead. Purity seals and religious iconography as well as personal items of religious significance are common place throughout the chapter and adorn almost every Brother and Templar.

Membership of a Zealot Squad is denoted by wearing black robes and painting their helmets black, which is meant to represent how these brothers have had their full senses blinded by their obsession with melee combat. These Brothers also chain their weapons to their armour, a practice they adopted from the Black Templars, so they might never be without their melee weapon of choice.

### Chapter Badge

The chapter badge of the Angels Mortis is winged flaming sword pointed down, with the wings being black, centred on a field of bone.

## Relations

The tendency for the chapter to use unrestricted warfare as it cleanses an area of enemies, has led to many Imperial forces who do not share the same religious zeal as the chapter to shun the Angels.

### Allies

* **Black Templars** - The friendship between the Angels Mortis and Black Templars was fostered in the days of the Years of Duty, as the Angels Mortis found themselves crusading across the Imperium and often ran into Black Templars Crusade Fleets. With both chapters venerating and worshiping the Emperor as a god, they already had a common bond, but soon found new ones whilst fighting beside one another on the field of battle. Despite the Angels Mortis placing importance on the Primaris Angels Mortis within the Imperial Pantheon, the two chapters would come to view this as an area to exercise discussion of theocracy and the various roles of the Emperors loyal sons.

### Strained

* **Unforgiven Chapters** - Prior to the War of the False Traitor, the Angels Mortis had held an accepted position within the Unforgiven with their unusual beliefs being overlooked in favour of their service record to the descendants of the Lion. However, following the war, the Unforgiven accepted the ruling of the Dark Angels and cut ties with the Angels Mortis, many simply forgetting their existence whilst others like the Ebon Angels would make sure they never forgot the treachery of the Angels Mortis.
* **Ebon Angels** - Following Lord Protector Zakaros Sammahs' execution of Grand Master Ezekiah as well as his Angelwing bodyguard and a squad of Oath Sworn Hunters, the Ebon Angels vowed to destroy the Angels Mortis in the subsequent war. Although they were stopped from upholding this vow, the Ebon Angels remain amongst the most hostile of the Unforgiven in regards to the Angels Mortis, and follow the latter part of the ruling regarding interactions with the Angels Mortis, 'to attack on sight' rather than simply ignore. The ongoing Pontifex War and the Angels Mortis' sudden arrival in that area of space only complicated the relationship further as the Ebon Angels had to be kept far away from the Angels Mortis when they first arrived in the Cluster in 006.M42 so they wouldn't turn their guns on the chapter. As a direct result Grand Marshal Sephram decided to send the Angels Mortis half way across the Britifore Sector to the Vanguard Line so the Imperial defence on the Strentmoore Front would not collapse due to infighting. Despite this, Lord Protector Vallian Moore has continued to express his desire to form a 'working relationship' with the Ebon Angels so they might better defend the Pontifex Cluster, though the frigate dispatched to send this message to Lord-Master Forrik has since disappeared not far from the Ebon Angels battle zone.
* **Silver Lions** - In a similar fashion to the Ebon Angels, the Silver Lions regard the Angels Mortis with utter contempt, though they have opted to simply ignore the Angels Mortis when sighted, seemingly out of a desire to not waste resources on an already defeated foe.
* **Sable Pride** - Despite seemingly being a logical ally as a fellow successor of the Dark Angels that has been shunned and is distrusted by the Unforgiven, Lord Protector Vallian Moore was mistaken in his belief that he would find a natural ally in the Sable Pride. This is due to the chapters isolationist nature as well as their dislike for the chapters religiousness. The Pride doesn't care for decisions made aboard the Rock and as such will willingly interact with the Angels Mortis should the war effort require it, though they would not count them as allies more acquaintances made by circumstance.

### Enemies

* **Chaos** - The chapter abhors all things heretical and traitorous and so will stop at nothing to wipe the galaxy clean of the taint of the Dark Gods and their followers.
* **Xenos** - The Angels Mortis hate all things xenos with an intensity born out of religious fervour and has happily conducted many xenocides and other such campaigns to cleanse the galaxy of them.
* **Fallen** - Prior to the Excommunication, the Angels Mortis hunted the Fallen with a fanatical zealotry unseen by many of the other Unforgiven chapters, as they saw it as their holy mission to capture every last one of those who would turn from the Primaris Angelus Mortis and anyone who would aid such a group. However, following the Excommunication the chapter relegated the knowledge of the Fallen to only the officers of the High Council and those still left alive within the ranks of the Penitantwing, as it was Lord Protector 228s belief that the chapter had lost the right to take part in the hunt and avenge their gene-father due to their own failings and therefore it would be wrong to conduct such operations. This being said, if the chapter does come into contact with the Fallen by chance, they will still capture them and make them repent.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Angels Mortis

"*You should not fear death Guardsman, death is merely a chance to bask in the eternal light of our glorious lord, providing your death is a worthy one.*"
— Brother-Sanctity Zadakriss Yan, to an unknown Guardsman.
### About the Angels Mortis

"*They are nothing more than zealous fools who we should have destroyed years ago.*"
— Grand Master Herankis of the Ebon Angels, to the Inner-Circle of the Unforgiven.

[Source]

 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Chimeric Lineage
 Unknown Lineage
 Renegades

[Source]