Angels of Twilight

Angels of Twilight armorial with Chapter iconography.

Angels of Twilight Primaris Intercessor of the 4th Company, 6th Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fidelitas Tenebrae*)

### **Successor of**

Dark Angels
(Lion El'Jonson lineage.)

### **Fortress-Monastery**

*Second Penance* (Battle Barge; Flagship)

### **Specialty**

Specializes in drop pod assaults and aggressive use of Fire Support squads.

### **Colours**

Dark Purple, Silver Trim and Gold Aquilla.

### Successor Chapter(s)

None.

The **Angels of Twilight** is a loyalist Space Marine Chapter created during the 4th Founding from the lineage of the ancient and aloof Dark Angels. This Chapter is known for rapidly deploying Fire Support Squads deep into enemy lines with Drop Pod assaults; delivering the maximum amount of damage to key enemy personnel and structures as quickly as possible. Like most Chapters of the Unforgiven, the Angels of Twilight are a fleet-based chapter ever on the hunt and tend to steer clear of others - focusing on their own shadowed agendas.

## Chapter History

In their original iteration, the Chapter that would come to be known as the Angels of Twilight was originally founded during the Second Founding as the '*Twilight Angels*'. The newly formed Chapter pulled its initial command cadre and members from the deadly Dreadwing formation. The chapter fought with great ferocity and violence, seeking the utter destruction of any foe they crossed paths with.

Due to the dangerous and degrading nature of the Dreadwing weaponry as well as the reduced capacity to draw in recruits, the Chapter soon found itself dwindling. Fewer and fewer battle-brothers remained after each fight. After the first millennium, they were forced to abandon the use of Interemptor Squads and their plasma burners. They then tried to focus on more conventional means of warfare but the damage was done. By the time the Fourth Founding came about in the middle centuries of M32, less than a hundred battle-brothers remained, and their Chapter was riddled with the sick and weary and many dreadnaughts to keep what few they could combat capable.

When the time came to initiate the Fourth Founding, Cazem Gladi'vas; Paladin of the Chapter and second to the Grand Master, was chosen for the honour of supplying his gene seed. Half a century later, the Angels of Twilight were born. Realizing both their failures to successfully lead their chapter and recognizing their failing bodies not having much left to give, the few remaining members of the Twilight Angels used their Sus-an Membrane to enter suspended animation. The dreadnaughts of the Chapter were retired to the deepest parts of the *Second Penance* - the chapter's flagship, and before entering suspended animation himself, Grandmaster Varkas stone-lung imbibed his wisdom into the new Grandmaster of the Angels of Twilight. A tradition that continues to this day when a new Grandmaster is chosen.

Over the following centuries, the Angels of Twilight have fought in many wars across the galaxy and remain as grim and determined as during their founding. Remaining stern and true to their founding roots, the Angels of Twilight practice delivering the most amount of damage to an opponent as quickly as possible.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Hel'terra II (M36)** - Marked the first-ever declaration of the 'Dread Protocol'. On Hel'terra II a sizable Waagh raged across the surface. Orbital bombardments proved ineffective as the greenskins took to using an abandoned series of tunnels and bunkers beneath the surface of the world. The Warboss Graz'nuk da Kunin, viewed himself as a grand tactician, ordering his boys only to come out of the bunkers to fight when the enemy was on the surface. Unable to properly leverage orbital barrage and drop pod assault the Marines began a series of planetary assaults' that ended in tunnel fighting. There the greenskins leveraged abandoned Imperial weaponry and traps to whittle down the marines bit by bit. Unable and unwilling to recall Dawnwing personnel from their hunt, Grandmaster Ghorkel, initiated the 'Dread Protocol'. Dozens of veterans from an age forgotten were stirred from their slumber. These veterans took up their long-forgotten and devastating weapons and dosed the world in Plasma Fire and Phosphex Bombs. Once the world was purged of the greenskins the ancients who remained returned to their slumber once again, until such a time they could use their broken bodies and lost skills to serve the Emperor just once more.

* **Varsus Prime (M42)** - Responding to reports of a large number of robbed figures in Black Power armour leading a planetary rebellion, the Angels of Twilight deploy to Varsus Prime, a small Feudal World that was once the seat of House Gallows, a Knight Household. Badly wounded from a previous campaign, all 432 marines of the Angels of Twilight Chapter are travelling with nearly their full Chapter Fleet. Upon leaving the warp the Chapter Fleet came across a half dozen Frigates and 1 Battleship marked by Chaos. After a brief void battle that cost the Angels 3 of their own frigates, the Greenwing was deployed to root out and eradicate the threat on the ground after orbit was secured. Shortly after boots were on the ground space buckled and split - a rift opened and a small fleet of chaos ships - a number of battleships and over a dozen frigates, erupted from the Warp and launched an attack on the Angels of Twilight Chapter fleet. Simultaneously, the seemingly unorganized chaos cults on the ground became organized as a Chaos Warband 200 strong and supported by a dozen Chaos twisted Knights, launching a surprise attack on the ground forces. The Duskwing confirmed the presence of fallen on the world at this time. Grandmaster Gazadreel, deployed all available forces to the ground as well as the entirety of the Dawnwing - himself leading the assault. After intense and bloody fighting through the streets, unable to capture him the warriors of the Dawnwing executed their Fallen cousin and then committed themselves fully to the fight. The surprise attack had crippled the fleet above the world and left them disorganized - the troops on the ground badly wounded from the ambush were surrounded and outgunned. With less than a hundred battle-brothers remaining and death calling their names, as Gazadreel began initiating the 'Dread Protocol' the sky shattered with gunfire as ships tore across the sky, landing devastating fire support into the chaos forces. Dozens of drop pods were raining from the skies - Gazadreel lead a countercharge as these newcomers lend their aid, flanking the enemy. With the arrival of nearly 300 marines, the battle shifted instantly and the chaos forces were routed. The forces were revealed to be 4 companies of Primaris Marines arriving as reinforcements for their chapter - the four battle barges they arrived in saving the remnants of the Chapters Fleet. The day was won but at a great cost. Seeing first hand the potential of the Primaris marines, but not entirely trusting of them - Grandmaster Gazadreel began pushing for his most trusted and experienced veterans to cross the Rubicon, to take full advantage of the Primaris marines superior physical capabilities. A journey he too would soon follow.

* **Valen III (M42)** - Having narrowly missed capturing a member of the Fallen on Valen III who had been dealing with the planetary governors in secret, the Angels of Twilight plant a sizable portion of their fleet in orbit. After weeks of recon and scanning Grandmaster Gazadreel had determined that the planet has gone rogue, the planetary Governor has long since been bewitched by the ruinous powers and has been remade as a foul Prince of Chaos - more alarmingly a small contingent of Heretic Astartes has been working closely with the governor. The data indicates that at least 20 Rubric Marines have accompanied a figure that appears to be Ahriman, traitor of the Thousand Sons lineage. Not waiting for anymore reports, Gazadreel mustered his forces and initiated an assault. The angels of Twilight launched a number of rapid attacks across the planets key strategic supply depots, forcing the planetary governor to lead his forces to fortify the remaining depots. Here the Dawnwing descended as the anvil to break the heretics - aiming not only to capture the Governor if possible for interrogation but to silence and and all who may have bore witness to the Fallen. The Angels descended to find a series of static gunlines and weapon placements - Rubric Marines dug in to defend. Leading his forces from the ground, Grandmaster Gazadreel charged the left flank, whilst Elessar, an experienced and veteran Interrogator Chaplain lead the Twilight Crusaders, a handpicked squad of Indomitus Crusade Veteran Bladeguards on the Right Flank. Thinking the battle was going according as plan, Gazadreel was thrown into an enemy trap as Scarab Terminators teleported on his position. The Governor and blue, leathery wings soared across the field to join the scarabs, and with a show of psychic might Gazadreel's honour guard fell. Standing amidst a sea of gunfire and repeated psychic assault Gazadreel collapsed but refused to yet go down - the stubborn tenacity of his gene father flowing thick in his veins. On the right flank Elessar leads his forces into the rubric Gunline as a curse of some foul sorcery overtakes him, the light of his rosarius flickers and fades and black, twisting tendrilsbite and grab at his and his mens legs as they charge the foe. Put whilst chanting the Litany of Hate, Elessar and the Twilight Crusaders close with the enemy, slicing apart the gunline and deploying a telport homer, which beckons forth 2 squads of Dawnwing Terminators - and with their superior fire power deployed on the center - it soon buckles and folds. The Dawnwing Terminator Squad “Vigil of Valencia” combat squads into two units and descends on the backlines of the Thousand sons Right flank and center field – each emerging on top of a supply cash. Simultaneously while the Grim Hunters, a squad venerable Relic Terminators teleport in alongside Cassiel Morates, a Librarian of the Dawnwing, behind Elessar and his bleeding Bladeguard deep on the opponents Left Flank.  From all directions the newly arrived terminators rained bolter fire and assault cannon rounds into the Thousand sons Rubric Marines , the Dawnwing squad on the enemies right flank laying down uncompromising fire as they set flame to the supply stash. The bolters only began to quite as the hulking frames of the Terminators bared down upon the thousand sons in a devastating charge. The Bladeguard vets and Elessar softened up the right flank as the Relic Terminators of the Grim Hunters tore them apart – killing off the flank’s rubric marines. The assault half of the Dawnwing Terminator squad at the heart of the battlefield charged and took Ahriman unawares – numerous blows from Thunder Hammers rocked and pounded him into the ground but his figure disappeared – wreathed in magic before the killing blow could be landed, perhaps he was not even there to begin with. On the other side of the battlefield, amidst the gawking eyes of the Occult Terminators, Master Gazadriel lashes out with a stubborn fury against the Daemon Prince – his masterful and precise swordsmanship wounding the Prince – whose mighty claws lash forth unable to down his fading foe. Finally – wounded and dying, Gazadriel collapses, helpless before the sneering Daemon Prince. The Governor however does not have a chance to deliver the killing blow as pyschic screams of his army being torn asunder rack his mind. He takes off to try and save the routing center, landing atop the reinforced trenches where the fighting is heaviest. On the right flank Cassiel uses his pyschic might to destoy a chashe of goods, and on the left flank under the weight of storm bolter, assault cannon and cyclone missile luanchers the flank is cleared of a dozens of Tanzigor that diligently and desperately defended the remaining cahse. With more than half his forces destroyed and half his supplies gone, the Governor flees. His mighty wings kicking up trails of blinding dust - in which he, the occult terminators and the Infernal master disappear. While they had won the battle, their query escaped, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the victors. Gazadreel's badly wounded body was recovered and returned to the Second Penance to undergoe treatment. The vigil of Valencia proved themselves skilled headhunters and pledged that from that day forewords, they would never allow a foe to escape them again.

## Chapter Homeworld

The Angels of Twilight possess no true home world but do have a dozen worlds they actively draw recruits from. As a fleet-based chapter, the Angels of Twilight's battlebarge: Second Penance, serves as the Chapters flagship.

## Chapter Organization

The Angels of Twilight closely follow the organization of the Dark Angels. Possessing a Dawnwing and Duskwing, in place of a Deathwing and Ravenwing. This makes them an uncompliant chapter. They also possess a Second Fire Support company in lieu of a tactical reserve company. Outside of these three companies, the Chapter is otherwise *Codex* Compliant.

Outside of the battle-brothers, the Angels of Twilight possess an inner circle which consists of only the most experienced and trusted members of the chapter. These few members are those who possess knowledge of the Fallen and actively work with and coordinate with other unforgiven chapters to hunt their query.

In addition to the ten standard companies, the Angels of Twilight keep a secret company of veterans known as the Dreaded. The dreaded are the broken and battle-weary brothers and remnants of the Twilight Angels who remain in suspended animation until they are called upon to use what limited lifespan they have left to serve the chapter before meeting their deaths or returning to their slumber.

### Officer Ranks

Within the Angels of Twilight, the commanding officers use their own titles for their ranks. The captains of each company are titled Masters. The Master of the 1st and 2nd Company are called Grand Master of the Dawnwing, and Grand Master of the Duskwing respectively. The Chapter Master is called the Grandmaster.

Each Master keeps two Knight Captains, who fill the roles of Lieutenants in the updated *Codex*. At the Squad level, a Knight leads each squad. The knight is an equivalent rank to another chapter's Sergeant. Each Knight has a Squire who acts as his second and should the squad be divided or the Knight should perish, the Squire takes command.

In addition to these ranks, the Chapter maintains a number of honourary ranks for many of their senior and junior officers. Those who possess these ranks tend to have a signifier for their rank attached to their armour or weapon. These ranks date back to the Knightly Orders of Old Caliban and the Hexagrammaton. The following are titles used by the Angels of Twilight:

* **Marshal of the Crown** - Symbolized by a Red of Silver Crown embazoled on the Right shoulder or left knee. This symbol and title marks one of great moral authority , marking a warrior who stands as a Paragon of some aspect of the Chapter, one that others of the same aspect will follow into fire and death without flinching.
* **Seneshal of the Keys** - This symbol is a key or either red, white or silver, and is used to denote one who attests to a secret knowledge of one of the Orders of the Hekatonystika. Those who bore this mark were specialist who would be called in times of need to form specialist squads, such as the Dreadwing's Interemptor Squads or the Deathwing Companions. Now the symbol signifies one who has knowledge and training on the use of these ancient weapons, for use when the need is dire.
* **Paladin** - Symbol is a crowned sword, and symbolizes the most veteran members of the Chapter who have served as both Master and Seneshal.
* **First Sword**- Symbol is an inverted blue sword, it symbolizes the most veteran members of the Chapter who has served as both Master and Marshal of the Crown.
* **Lord Paladin** - the greatest title one can bear, save for Grandmaster, it bears the utmost of respect, for the few to earn it. The symbol is an inverted Blue sword, with a Red Crown, only those who served as Master, Seneshal and Marshal.

### Specialist Units & Formations

* **Dawnwing** - The 1st Company of the Angels of Twilight. Previously the whole company fights entirely in terminator armour and makes extensive use of Land Raiders and Storm Eagles. The full number of brothers in this company is undisclosed. After the introduction of Primaris marines, veteran marines of the Dawnwing now take to equipping themselves and going to battle as Blade Guard Veterans in times when terminator plate can not be used and greater mobility is needed. The Dawnwing has an undisclosed number of Dawnwing Knights.

* **Duskwing** - The Second Company of the Angels of Twilight. Mirroring the Dark Angels Ravenwing, the whole company is a mounted and highly mobile company making almost exclusive use of Outriders, Bikers, Land Speeders and other fast attack craft. Their primary function is for locating, harassing and surrounding high-value targets while planting teleport homers for the Dawnwing to deploy as accurately as possible in any warzone.

* **Dread Protocol** - The remnant and forgotten ancients of the Twilight Angels. Made from 4 Intremptor Squads, 2 Relic Terminator Squads, 1 Knight Cenobium Squad, 2 dozen dreadnaughts of the Leviathan and Contemptor Pattern and a handful of command staff. They spend all their time in stasis awaiting the direst of need, only summonable by the Grandmaster of the Chapter. Have only been drawn from their ancient slumber twice.

* **The Imperative** - A formation based on the Eskaton Imperative once used by the First Legions Dreadwing. It is a deployment that delivers a mass of Heavy Support units deployed in tandem in lieu of regular assault or tactical troops. This formation aims to eradicate all forms of resistance with the maximum amount of Devastation possible.

## Combat Doctrine

The primary combat doctrine of the Angels of Twilight is to deploy multiple drop pods of heavy support troops such as Devastators or Hellblasters to deliver as much damage as possible, shortly followed by both drop pods and aircraft deploying assault and tactical troops as needed, where needed.

## Chapter Culture & Beliefs

The Angels of Twilight are very taciturn and devoted to their causes - whatever that may be. Most brothers of the chapter train to be as devastating as possible and support one another as possible - aiming to be as efficient at dealing death and reigning fire as one can be.

The battle-brothers otherwise keep to themselves and spend long hours to themselves in meditation and inward reflection. Believing a perfectly calm and focused mind is the greatest asset a warrior can possess they seek perfection in war and mind. Further allowing them to laser focus on the carnage and mayhem they deliver on their opponents.

## Chapter Recruitment

The Angels of Twilight as a chapter fleet maintains a number of worlds they draw recruits from. They however prefer to draw from Feudal Worlds that both dangle precariously close to being classified as death worlds that have also been sites of Chaos Incursions in the past. Once every generation a ship arrives at each of these worlds and presents a test. A Chaplain, who has status as a member of the inner circle - interviews and tests hundreds if not thousands of aspirants. Selecting only those who best match the qualities sought by the Chapter. Equal parts a calm mind, strong body, iron will and fierce hatred for the foul creatures that have despoiled their world. Less than 1 in 10 will meet this criteria, those chosen are then tested in the Midnight Trial.

The midnight trial traps the aspirants in the belly of a frigate, specially designed for these trials that always accompany the recruiting ship. The aspirants are made to survive and prosper for a full year within the ship. The ship bears its own ecosystems and captured chaos beasts, drawn from the other recruiting worlds. Those who pass this trial are divided into three categories: those who survived, those who lead and those who followed. All are then granted the first strand of the Canis Helix gene and placed into a series of small squads and teams to compete with each other. Only the top teams are selected to continue with the procedures to become Marines. Those who failed, if they performed well or were highly evaluated by the Chaplain are returned to their home world with gifts. The goal is to further allow these exceptional youth to further their bloodlines, those who do not meet that criteria are made into serfs for the chapter.

## Notable Members

* **Grandmaster Gazadreel** - Current Chapter Master of the Angels of Twilight and Lord Paladin. Came from the Feudal World Galvator IV, a heavily forested world ripe with Chaos Beasts. After 2 centuries of service in the Third Company Gazadreel was inducted into the Inner Circle upon killing a member of the Fallen on campaign. He then served a full century in the Dawnwing before being promoted to Master of the Sixth. After a hundred successful campaigns Gazadreel would find himself elected to the position of Grandmaster, in part to his keen mind and unflinching dedication to his cause. Gazdreel has sworn his oath and learned his Chapters secrets as tradition from Grandmaster Varkas Stone-Lung before returning once again to slumber. He has held this position for little over a century and has recently crossed the Rubicon Primaris.
* **Elessar** - Interrogater Chaplain of the Angels of Twilight, was recruited alongside Gazadreel and has been a rival leader during the Trials. Has since made a name for himself within the chapter, being well known for his steely conviction and willingness to stand his ground against his Grandmasters orders. Has yet to earn a black pearl.
* **Cassiel Morates** - A veteran librarian assigned to the Dawnwing. Highly skilled in the interromancy school and prefers violently digging into and tearing away the thoughts of his foes in combat. Has been noted to be oddly short for a marine, more so one in Terminator plate.
* **Barachiel Nadel** - Grandmaster of the Dawnwing. Barachiel holds title of Grandmaster of the Dawnwing as well as First Sword. Barachiel has mastered the art of Swordsmanship over the course of several terran centuries and has reached the pinnacle of skill and focus of mind. He commands the utmost respect from his fellow Marines and always leads the Dawnwing with unflinching determination and calculated precision.
* **Brother Dromos** - Paladin, interred in a Leviathan Siege Dreadnaught. Is the oldest living marine attached to the Angels of Twilight, born at the very end of the 31st milenium, he once served as Master of the Dawnwing and Seneshal until his body failed him and his position was passed to another. When stirred from his slumber he enacts great and terrible carnage to all who cross his path - having long began to blur the lines between friend and foe, only the current Grandmaster is given the methods to ease his mind and direct his wrath.
* **Sacherai Enkidah** - Master of the Fourth, Seneshal of the Keys; the oldest amongst the Angels of Twilight not interred within a dreadnought. His body, scarred and maimed from a thousand wars across a thousand years - he crossed the Rubicon to push his body back into servicable shape. Fighting only within Mark X Gravis armour - he outfits half his company the same.

## Chapter Fleet

The Angels of Twilight possesses a sizable Chapter Fleets as befitting a fleet-based Chapter. The Fleet possesses 5 Battle Barges, 12 Strike Cruisers, 14 Rapid Strike Vessels and 24 Thunderhawk Gunships.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The standard battle-brother bears a dark purple armour, that has silver trim on the shoulders, a gold Aquila and Bright Green lenses in the helmets. All weapon casings used by the Angels of Twilight are painted a deep, dark red. On the left knee marines bear iconography mirroring the dark angels Company markings. Knights of the company wear winged helmets with red plumes and their squires often forgo helmets to wear hoods of either Crème (company veterans) or Blood Red (non-veterans). Squires who wear helmets instead of hoods use completely red helmets, reminiscent of a *Codex*-compliant sergeant which often confuses other Astartes as to the exact position, rank and role of the chapter's battle-brothers. However, in some squads, the Knight will wear a Red Helmet when battling alongside other astartes to minimize confusion.

The Knight Captains of the companies additionally wear winged helmets, but use Blue plumage on the feathers. or Red with Feathers with the tips dyed blue. Masters wear either hoods or Winged Helmets as well. The hoods and plumes on their helmets will be as white as freshly fallen snow.

The brothers of the Dawnwing wear a light, almost white bone-coloured armour, instead of the company's normal dark purple. Many in the Dawnwing wear hood or tabards in honour of their Dark Angels heritage. The tabards and hoods of those who do are dark purple with silver accents and plumage of feathers are red.

Brothers of the Duskwing all wear black armour and red helmets. The Knights of their squads either wear red hoods or red feathered helms. The Duskwing does not have any distinguishing markings for their Squires.

### Chapter Badge

The badge of the Chapter is a downwards-facing red-winged sword. This design mirrors the design of their parent chapter the Dark Angels.

## Notable Quotes

### About the Angels of Twilight

[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]