Adeptus Custodes - Adeptus Custodes: The Adeptus Custodes, known as the Legio Custodes during the era of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, and colloquially as the "Ten Thousand," is the Imperial adepta responsible for protecting the Imperial Palace and the physical body of the Emperor of Mankind, as well as serving as His most important emissaries, His companions, and the keepers of His many secrets. The Custodes is an elite cadre of genetically-engineered transhuman male and female warriors who are even more potent in combat than the Adeptus Astartes. They are to the Space Marines as the Emperor is to His primarchs, and it is rumoured that each was created by the Master of Mankind personally. His might permeates them, burns in their eyes and flows through their veins as surely as their blood. As such, the Adeptus Custodes are widely regarded as the deadliest warriors in the galaxy, Human or otherwise.Where Space Marines represent the mass-produced, genetically-engineered soldiers of the Imperium of Man, the Adeptus Custodes are a force of individual warriors, each a bastion in their own right and a sentinel of unmatched capability and singular purpose created to counter any possible threat -- Human, alien or Daemonic. These warriors have stood in the presence of the immortal Emperor of Mankind since before the time of the Unification Wars. For ten thousand Terran years and more, the Custodians have stood watch over their lord and master, serving as the Emperor's personal heralds and praetorian bodyguard.During the Great Crusade these resplendent warriors guarded the Emperor wherever He went and swore to give their lives to protect His. After His incarceration in the Golden Throne following the Horus Heresy ten standard millennia ago, they have taken a far more limited role in the Imperium of Man. They almost never leave Terra and only very rarely are seen outside the Imperial Palace as they watch over their recumbent master and patrol the precincts of the Emperor's palace, ever vigilant of threats. It is only the Adeptus Custodes who decide who may enter the Sanctum Imperialis of the Emperor at the heart of the Inner Palace, and when they may do so.With the birth of the Great Rift in the Era Indomitus, and the resurrection of Primarch Roboute Guilliman as the lord commander of the Imperium and Imperial Regent, the Adeptus Custodes have been forced to take a more active role in galactic affairs. A force of Custodians has followed Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade out into the galaxy, often serving as the heralds of a Torchbearers fleet bringing the Primaris creation technology to existing Space Marine Chapters.This was done both to reassure the existing Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes that the gift of the Primaris Space Marines was ordained by the will of the Emperor, but also because in this new era of constant threat, the Custodes have come to a hard realisation: sometimes, the best defence is found on offence.Quick Answers																		What is the primary role of the Adeptus Custodes in the Warhammer 40k universe?																									In the Warhammer 40k universe, the Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, are the Emperor of Mankind's bodyguards. These individual transhuman warriors of both sexes, unmatched in capability, are designed to counter any threat. Their loyalty to the Emperor is absolute and unquestionable. They've served the Emperor since the Unification Wars, a period spanning ten thousand Terran years. Besides their protective role, they also function as a military force since the start of the Era Indomitus led them to leave the Imperial Palace for the first time in ten millennia, wielding authority over nearly all other Imperium organisations.																Provided by: Community																													Who is the only authority the Adeptus Custodes answer to?																									The Adeptus Custodes, known as the Custodian Guard in the Warhammer universe, exclusively answer to the Emperor of Mankind. They operate beyond all law and command, with the exception of the Emperor's direct authority. High-ranking Imperials, including the High Lords of Terra and Lord Commander Guilliman, can merely request their assistance, but not issue orders to them. Each Custodian is also an individual lord of the Imperium.																Provided by: Community																													What is the significance of the Custodes symbol in the Warhammer 40k lore?																									In Warhammer 40k lore, the Custodes symbol, the Raptor Imperialis, originated during the Unification Wars, and was the original symbol of the early Imperium. The Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, are exclusively permitted to use it as their main heraldic icon.																Provided by: Community																													What is the ancient declaration made by the Emperor of Mankind about the Adeptus Custodes?																									The Emperor of Mankind declared the Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, as his personal bodyguards during the Unification Wars. Their lives are pledged to his safety, their loyalty unquestionable. Only the Emperor has authority over them, with no other commander in battle or service than those they choose to accept.																Provided by: Community																													How does the loyalty of the Adeptus Custodes contribute to their role as custodian guards?																									The Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, are fiercely loyal protectors of the Emperor of Mankind. Their loyalty is not given lightly, but once earned, it is unshakeable. This profound loyalty, combined with their individualistic fighting styles and unique armors, makes them formidable opponents. Even powerful sorcerers find their mental assaults ineffective against the Custodes' unwavering conviction.																Provided by: Fandom{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","name":"Adeptus Custodes","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the primary role of the Adeptus Custodes in the Warhammer 40k universe?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In the Warhammer 40k universe, the Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, are the Emperor of Mankind's bodyguards. These individual transhuman warriors of both sexes, unmatched in capability, are designed to counter any threat. Their loyalty to the Emperor is absolute and unquestionable. They've served the Emperor since the Unification Wars, a period spanning ten thousand Terran years. Besides their protective role, they also function as a military force since the start of the Era Indomitus led them to leave the Imperial Palace for the first time in ten millennia, wielding authority over nearly all other Imperium organisations."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who is the only authority the Adeptus Custodes answer to?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Adeptus Custodes, known as the Custodian Guard in the Warhammer universe, exclusively answer to the Emperor of Mankind. They operate beyond all law and command, with the exception of the Emperor's direct authority. High-ranking Imperials, including the High Lords of Terra and Lord Commander Guilliman, can merely request their assistance, but not issue orders to them. Each Custodian is also an individual lord of the Imperium."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the significance of the Custodes symbol in the Warhammer 40k lore?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In Warhammer 40k lore, the Custodes symbol, the Raptor Imperialis, originated during the Unification Wars, and was the original symbol of the early Imperium. The Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, are exclusively permitted to use it as their main heraldic icon."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the ancient declaration made by the Emperor of Mankind about the Adeptus Custodes?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Emperor of Mankind declared the Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, as his personal bodyguards during the Unification Wars. Their lives are pledged to his safety, their loyalty unquestionable. Only the Emperor has authority over them, with no other commander in battle or service than those they choose to accept."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does the loyalty of the Adeptus Custodes contribute to their role as custodian guards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Adeptus Custodes, or Custodian Guard, are fiercely loyal protectors of the Emperor of Mankind. Their loyalty is not given lightly, but once earned, it is unshakeable. This profound loyalty, combined with their individualistic fighting styles and unique armors, makes them formidable opponents. Even powerful sorcerers find their mental assaults ineffective against the Custodes' unwavering conviction."}}]}