Lion's Praetorians

Lion's Praetorians armorial with Chapter iconography.

A Lion's Praetorians Battle-Brother of the 4th Company, 3rd Battleline Squad.

The **Lion's Praetorians** are an ancient 3rd Founding Successor Chapter created from the lineage of the venerable and mysterious Dark Angels. Both in doctrine and temperament, the Lion's Praetorians are very similar to their Progenitors, and the two Chapter's teachings are largely consistent. Shunning fame and laurels, the deeds of the Lion's Praetorians are even less well-known than those of the other Unforgiven Chapters, however, they are incredibly zealous and honorable and are devoted members of the Unforgiven (the collective of Dark Angels Successor Chapters), concentrating on their duties to the exclusion of all else.

## Chapter History

The Lion's Praetorians were created in the 3rd Founding at the dawning of the 32nd Millennium to fight the heretics of Chaos Cults and Heretic Astartes. They hate the Fallen the most, for they were members of the Emperor's I Legion, who willingly spat on their oaths of fealty to both the Emperor and the Lion and willingly followed the Arch-Heretic Luther into damnation.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Sollanor Campaign (975.M34)**- The Praetorians tracked down Cypher and a warband of the Fallen, and attacked them with a huge force. In the battle, Leonidas was entombed in a dreadnought and nearly half the brother's died, a well as Cypher escaping. However, the entire warband was killed or captured, resulting in a pyrrhic Imperial victory.

## Chapter Homeworld

Pruis was the chapter's former homeworld. It was destroyed when Orks invaded, prompting the chapter to become a fully fleet-based Chapter.

### Fortress-Monastery

As the Chapter no longer possesses a Chapter homeworld, they were forced to become a fully functioning fleet-based Chapter. With the destruction of their former fortress-monastery the venerable *Emperor*-class Battleship *The Angel's Wings* became the Chapter's defacto, mobile fortress-monastery.
This venerable vessel is of beautiful design - a relic of thousands of battles. It was gifted to the chapter by the Adeptus Mechanicus after it was recovered by members of the Deathwing from a space hulk. In it, was an STC for a type of armour piercing bolt, and the re-furbished and re-dedicated vessel was gifted to the Lion's Praetorians to serve as their flagship, as well as granting them access to the ammunition for acquiring the STC.

## Chapter Organization

### Command Ranks

* **Chapter Master**

* **Grand Master**: Commander of one of the wings

* **Company Master**: Equivalent of captain

* **Lieutenant**

### Specialist Ranks

* **Blade of the Emperor**: Honorific title, most similar to the Emperor's Champion, but without the added wargear. There have been three in the Chapter's history; Leonidas Melanochaita, Kellisarys, and Yvain, with Yvain holding it the longest. There can only be one. One becomes the Blade of the Emperor in the stress of battle, they beging glowing with holy energy, and the energy forms into a glowing crown on the Blade's head. Once the bearer dies or is too weak to fight on their own, the energy flows away in an explosion, flying into the air.

* **High Interrogator**: Reclusiarch equivalent.

* **Interrogator-Chaplain**: Chaplain equivalent.

* **Master Librarian**: Chief Librarian equivalent.

* **Master of the Forge**: Senior Techmarine, in charge of the Chapter's Armourium.

* **Techmarine**

* **Chief Apothecary**

* **Apothecary**

* **Ancient**: Standard Bearer.

* **Chapter/Company Champion**

### Line Ranks

* **Veteran Sergeant**

* **Sergeant**

* **Battle-Brother**

* **Scout Marine**

* **Novice**: Neophyte equivalent.

### Specialist Formations

* **Deathwing**

* **Ravenwing**

* **Stormwing**: The Stormwing is still being used by the Lion's Praetorians because of their frequent siege and breaching operations.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

**Yvain,**
**Chapter Master of the Lion's Praetorian**
**Chapter Champion**
**Deathwing Knights (Honour Guard**
**Command Squad: (Ancient, Interrogator-Chaplain, Techmarine, Lexicanium & Apothecary)**

**First Company Master Galahad,**
***Equerry to the Chapter Master***
**Huntmaster Percival,**
***Commander of the Ravenwing***
**Kay,**
***Master of Sanctity***
**Master Librarian Blaise,**
***Master of Lore***
**Chief Apothecary Urius,**
***Master of the Apothecarion***
**Company Master Alexandros,**
***Master of the Fleet***
**8 Company Masters (Captain Equivalent) of the 8 remaining companies**
**All Deathwing Knights**
**Master Librarian Blaise,**
***Master of Lore***
**Lexicaniums**
**Codiciers**
**Epistolaries**
**Acolytum** | **Lieutenant Bors,**
***Warden of the Angel's Wings***
**Administrative Support Staff**
**Servitors**
**Master Alexandros,**
***Master of the Forge and Master of the Angel's Wings***

**The *Master of the Angel's Wings* serves as the Chapter's Master of the Forge; he is NOT a member of the Inner Circle because of his shared allegiance to the Adeptus Mechanicus.**

**Techmarines**
**Servitors**
**Predators**
**Vindicators**
**Whirlwinds**
**Land Raiders** | **Company Master Alexandros**
***Master of the Fleet***
**Chapter Fleet:**
**1 Battleship**
**Battle Barges**
**Strike Cruisers**
**Various Support Craft**
**Orbital & Aerial Fighter Craft**
**Thunder Transports & Gunships**
**Storm Talon Gunships**
**Drop Pods**
**Chief Apothecary Urius**
***Master of the Apthecarion***
**High Interrogator Kay,**
***Master of Sanctity***
**Interrogator-Chaplains**
**Chaplains**

## Chapter Culture

The chapter follows strict laws of war, always using honor, even against the Fallen. They hate those who fight without honor. The chapter's most sacred object is the *Codex Chivilarous,* a tome written by Captain Leonidas Melanochaita, the Dark Angels master chosen to lead the chapter in the founding, about chivalry, honor, his records of hunting the Fallen, and battle strategies.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

As the Lion's Praeotorians are direct inheritors of the genetic legacy of Lion El'Jonson, their gene-seed is one of the purest and least degraded of all, compared to the rest of the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. There are no known aberrations in the Lion's Praeotorians' gene-seed and many within the High Lords of Terra finally seem more ammenable to creating newer Successor Chapters from the genetic legacy of the Lion, recognising these Successor Chapters' genetic strength and commitment to the Imperial cause.

## Deathwatch Service

The Chapter views the Deathwatch as a waste of time, for they must always stay vigilant for the Fallen, yet those who join willingly are taught in combat and better strategy, so they hold no disdain against them.

## Notable Members

* **Leonidas Melanochaita**: Leonidas was the original chapter master, until his duel with Cypher in the Sollanor campaign. He nearly brought Cypher to justice, and as he had struck him down, Cypher shot him through the chest several times with Leonidas's plasma pistol, leaving him crippled. Cypher retreated from the approaching battle brothers, but one of Cypher's men, Faerun, decided to end Leonidas' life, he started brutally attacking the crippled warrior, trying to cause as much pain and damage, but not death as possible. As he was about to bring the axe down on Leonidas's head, his head was blown off by a burst of bolter fire from descending assault marines, with one grabbing his fading body, and the other's grabbing his weapons. When brought back to their strike cruiser, he was put in a dreadnought sarcophagus and prepared for his eternity long entombment in a dreadnought.
* **Yvain:** Yvain is the current chapter master, and the current Blade of the Emperor.

## Chapter Fleet

Little is known about the make-up of the Lion's Praetorians' fleet, though the following vessels have been confirmed to belong to the Chapter:

* ***Angel's Wings* (Emperor Class Battleship)** - It is the Chapter's personal flagship of the Lion's Praetorians and serves essentially as the Chapter's mobile Fortress-Monastery.

* ***The Vengeance of Caliban*** **(Battle Barge)**

* ***The Emperor’s Judgement*** **(Battle Barge)-** The Emperor’s Judgement is High Interrogator Kay’s personal ship.
* ***Death Incarnate (*Battle Barge)-** Death Incarnate was the chapter’s previous flagship, it is a pre-heresy relic.

## Chapter Relics

* ***Codex Chivalrous***: A tome of chivalry, honor, his records of hunting the Fallen, and battle strategies. It was penned by Leonidas Melanochaita in the blood of the Fallen. It is possibly the most important relic to the chapter, the only rival being *Quod Dens Leonis.*

* ***Quod Autem Redemptionis Pessulumsor***: An ancient gilded bolter that was found in the heart of a space hulk that the Deathwing had taken. Leonidas had grabbed it and used it along with his great sword, *Quod Dens Leonis*, but after his entombment in a dreadnought, it became the weapon of the Chapter Master, currently being wielded by Yvain.

* ***Nobiis Text***: The *Nobiis Text* is a relic leviathan dreadnought suit, worn by the first Chapter Master, Leonidas Melanochaita. It is normally armed with a pair of relic siege weapons; being Vita; a Siege Claw and Mors; a Siege drill, 2 hull mounted heavy bolters, a searchlight, atomantic shielding, reinforced adamantium plating, and smoke launchers.

* ***Quod Dens Leonis***: A Heavenfall Blade wielded by Leonidas Melanochaita. It was touched by the warp and it causes unbearable pain and much more lethal power against those who have betrayed someone before. It and *Quod Autem Redemptionis Pessulumsor* are the weapons of the Chapter Master.

* ***Leo Galeae***: The *Helmet of Yvain*. It is in the shape of a lion's head. It is mastercrafted and unique. It is odd in that it is only similar to a regular astartes helmet in it's composition, with much better diagnostic abilities, auto senses, and thermal tracking. It's photolenses are made of transparent diamantine.

* ***Maleficarum Venandi***: *Maleficarum Venandi* is a master-crafted Condemnor bolter wielded by High Interrogator Kay.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Lion's Praetorians primarily wear purple coloured power armour with gold trim and accents. The Aquila or Imperialis worn on their plastrons (chest guards) is also gold in colour. A gold coloured, open-faced squad specialist symbol is stenciled on the right shoulder pauldron inset, indicating a battle-brother's assigned combat specialty (Close-Support, Fire-Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command). A small gold coloured gothic numeral is stenciled in the center of this symbol, indicating a battle-brother's assigned squad.

Like their Progenitors, the Lion's Praetorians also make use of the same heraldic livery located on their left poleyn (knee guard), to indicate which company a battle-brother is assigned to, rather than the usual *Codex*-mandated colours.

Also, the Lion's Praetorians Veteran Marines and Inner Circle members are commonly found wearing white coloured hooded cloaks and tabards to symbolise their shame over what the Fallen Angels had done near the end of the Great Crusade, as well as designated their senior status following their induction into the highest orders of their Chapter.

### Chapter Badge

The Lion's Praetorians Chapter badge takes the form of a stylised gold roaring lion's head, with two crossed sword centered behind it on a field of deep purple.

## Relations

### Allies

Most chapter's of the Imperium, especially chapter's of the Unforgiven.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Lion's Praetorians

"*The Fallen Angel's are the most vile of traitor's, therefore we must hunt them. This tome shall teach you the bare necessities to hunt them and bring them back to the Emperor's light. If that is impossible and you don't have the time and resources to properly interrogate them, kill them. In the Emperor's name, allow none to remain with Chaos, or we shall remain a stain in our glorious Imperium's history.*"
— Opening words of Leonidas Melanochaita's tome, the *Codex Chivalrous*
### About the Lion's Praetorians

"*Champion, Look! A Fellow Slaaneshi Warband is approaching! We must welcome them to the Indulgence of Slaanesh! See, there they are in their Land Speeders! Wait, no Chaos Warband has any land spee-*"
— Last Words of a Slaaneshi Noise Marine Dionious, before being killed by a heavy bolter round of a Land Speeder of the Lions Praetorians Space Marine Chapter.

[Source]

 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Iron Hands Successors
 Ultramarines Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Unknown Lineage

[Source]
## Gallery

Lion's Praetorians Veteran Marine of the elite 1st Company arrayed in relic Indomitus pattern Terminator Armour.Lion's Praetorians Captain.Lion's Praetorians Veteran Marine.Lion's Praetorians Veteran Marine wearing a jump pack.A Lion's Praetorians Battle-Brother of the 4th Company, 3rd Battleline Squad.Lion's Praetorians Close Support Marine.