Legendary Guardians of the Covenant

In a Chapter of but a thousand warriors, each and every Space Marine is a legend on its own.

Having endured a gruelling training, surviving to become a Battle-Brother and carving his legend through the annals of the Imperium itself, each and every member of the Chapter is a hero beyond belief. Though even in this brotherhood of heroes, there are a few warriors that truly stand out. They are warriors whose prowess of battle and keen intellect are second to none. They and they alone have achieved singular greatness and are the purest exemplars of their Chapter.

They are the epitome of what each Battle-Brother strives to become.

They are legendary.

Xandor Solaceon - Supreme Grand Master of the Guardians of the Covenant,  The Lord Guardian, the Crimson Angel, Satrap of Sub-Sector Halcyon

Even for an Astartes, Xandor Solaceon is ancient. Taking the mantle of Chapter Master almost four hundred years ago, the story of Solaceon is one of many legends. Solaceon, the current Supreme Grand Master is believed to be over eight centuries old. His ornate suit of artificer armour is as much battle plate as it is life support. His armour sports an ancient single-thruster winged jump pack and he wields a large power falx.
He is a fearsome warrior, wise and pious. Many Mortikans revere him as a Saint, entire generations growing up and dying, taking comfort in the fact that Solaceon is always there as an avatar of the divinity of the God-Emperor.
To the Battle-Brothers of the Chapter, Solaceon is the ultimate authority. An individual with the wisdom of ages. It was Solaceon that single-handedly slew the Daemon Prince N'zar, he also turned the tide in the Lelith Incursion and successfully led the 77th Halo Crusade, which led to the creation of a new sub-sector at the edge of known space.
By ancient tradition, the position of Chapter Master will be vacant only after the passing of the current one. Due to his extreme age, the Lord Guardian shares the burden of leading the Chapter with his fellow Grand Masters and spends a lot of time in the Spire in study and meditation. However, when the Lord Guardian enters the battlefield, the tide of battle will surely turn.


Galax Trayarch - The Knight Eternal, Grand Master of the Convenio Mentoris, High Suzerain of Mortikah VII

Clad in a suit of baroque terminator armour, Grand Master Trayarch is a giant, even amongst his brother Astartes. As Grand Master of the Convenio Mentorus, he is the Master of the Knights of the Covenant, and thusly named the Knight Eternal. Trayarch has held his post for nearly two centuries, and can always be found at the forefront of any large theatre of war. He typically wields Deicide, an archaeotech thunder hammer, with origins in the Great Crusade, which he wields with devastating effect.
The Knight Eternal earned praise from the wider Imperium, when he boarded a Hive Ship of a splinter fleet of Hive Gorgon, slaying the Norn Queen after a battle that is said to have taken over a day to complete. Of the thirty elite Knights and Mentor Terminators that boarded the Tyranid vessel, only five survived. Those survivors currently form Trayarch's command squad, named The Five.
Through great sacrifice, the Guardians of the Covenant eventually turned the tide of the war halted the progress of Hive Fleet Gorgon significantly.


Parcival Drachyon - The Stygian Prince, Grand Master of the Convenio Venator, Praeses of the Black Knights

The illustrious career of the Grand Master of the second company is one steeped in glory. Parcival Drachyon currently leads the Black Knights, an elite faction within the fabled Convenio Venator, the gathering of hunters. Drachyon, like his knights, wears jet black armour. This, together with his noble Mortikan heritage, earned him the title, the Stygian Prince.Drachyon rides into battle a relic without equal: Mercurion, an ancient Scimitar-pattern Jetbike, a precious heirloom from the days of the Great Crusade.
The Stygian Prince is a veteran of centuries and his wisdom knows few equals, despite this, he is considered hot-headed by some, hungry for glory by others. Drachyon is the absolute master of rapid attacks, often hitting the enemy with surgical strikes, breaking the foe's will even before the main assault. The Praeses of the Black Knights rose to fame with the wider Imperium after fighting alongside the Ultramarines Third Company in a gruelling campaign against the corrupted hive world of Virago, where they clashed with their traitorous brethren of The Purge, a Chaos Space Marine warband.


Luthenas Vairez - Master of the Convenio Armatura, Master of the Forge, Lord of Mechanisms, Keeper of the Last Guardian.

The Master of the Forge, Luthenas Vairez, has spent decades on Mars and Ryza, learning the secrets of the Adeptus Mechanicus. He came back after almost a century of absence, the annals of the Spire registered Vairez as lost to the warp. The stalwart Techmarine was immediately promoted to Master of the Forge and he went to work on The Last Guardian, an immobilised but nonetheless fearsome Fellblade super-heavy tank, which he made battle-ready after a decade of intensive work. Vairez is legendary within the Chapter, both as a mechanic and an innovator. His unorthodox armour sports an arcane conversion beamer and he himself wields a thunder hammer, often with a storm shield.


Kaesar Lucius -  Former Grand Master of the Chapter, The Doomed Crusader

The story of Kaesar Lucius was a grand one, albeit with one that ends in misfortune. He was a fearsome warrior. A Battle-Brother of great wisdom, and unmatched skills in battle. Lucius was an active crusader, and claimed a lot of uncharted space for the Imperium. Over two millennia ago, Kaesar Lucius stood on the eve of embarking on the biggest crusade into the uncharted territory of the Halo Zone. The crusade would later be christened as the Armeneus Crusade. Hundreds of thousands of troops, Spireguard, tanks and a full five companies of Guardians of the Covenant would travel with a fleet of such magnitude, that it was said the stars themselves were blotted out.
All would prove for nought. The crusade left, and would never be heard of again. The final fate of Kaesar Lucius and many Battle-Brothers and brothers in arms would be left to question for eternity.


Leicas Huriel - Legendary founder of the Chapter

Leicas Huriel was a Dark Angel and the arch-father of the Chapter. Not much is known about Huriel. He was a member of the Inner Circle and was known as an oddity within the Dark Angels Chapter, in that he though the scholarly arts were equal to the martial arts. Despite this, Huriel was considered a font of wisdom. When the High Lords of Terra created a new Chapter from Dark Angels' Gene-Seed, it was only natural that Leicas Huriel would be the one to lead it.


Lenko Hollix-Varnus - Librarius Dominus, Chief Librarian, Keeper of the Seven Keys

The Chief Librarian of the Guardians of the Covenant stands in stark contrast with Brother-Librarians from other Chapters. The Librarius Dominus of the Sons of Mortikah is not a keeper of secrets, but a giver of knowledge. Even within a brotherhood of warrior-scholars, Lenko Hollix-Varnus takes the moniker to a new level. He a scholar in extremis, when not at war, he leads the Librarium in documenting and categorising every piece of knowledge and art the Chapter brings into existence.
Formally attached to the First Company, he wears dark blue and gunmetal terminator armour. Hollix-Varnus is the name of an influential noble Mortikan family, which has provided the Guardians of the Covenant with many recruits.
Aside of all this, Lenko is a formidable battle-psyker, wielding the devastating powers of the warp to great effect.

Ivanh Olmas - Hero of the Lelith Campaign, Chaplain of the Convenio Fides

Olmas is perhaps the most recently forged legend within the Guardians of the Covenant Chapter. He is a Chaplain assigned to the Convenio Fides. Olmas was chosen to lead the expedition against the Lelith as Force Commander. Despite heavy losses, Ivanh Olmas stood his ground and none found him wanting. His selfless actions prevented even heavier losses amongst his Brothers, and due to this he was named the Hero of the Lelith Campaign, Saviour of Choris. He refused any official commendations, for he stated that he was only doing his duty and expected his brothers to do just the same. Nevertheless, his star shines brightly and he is well liked -and feared- by the brothers of his ministration.


Sajanus Mordecai - Dark  Reclusiarch, Keeper of the Faith, Grand Master of the Reclusiam

A dark and brooding figure, Sajanus Mordecai is amongst the oldest Astartes in service of  Chapter. His ornate artificer armour is bedecked with sinister memento mori and numerous texts from holy scriptures. Mordecai is said to embody the spirit of the Chapter and carries the title Keeper of the Faith.  Though a fully trained Interrogator-Chaplain, even holding two of the fabled black pearls in his keepsake, Mordecai currently uses his skills to interrogate the many vile Xenos the Guardians of the Covenant encounter, and he does this with terrifying succes.
Aside of his Crozius Arcanum, Mordecai wields Spiritbreaker, a master-crafted power fist and is commonly seen donning the Angel's Pinions, a winged jump pack akin to that of the Chapter Master himself.

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: Famous Campaigns and Battles. Part I

During their long history, the Guardians of the Covenant have fought a great many wars and crusades. Though most have been lost in the sands of time, forgotten save for a tattered banner of withered scroll somewhere deep in the Spire, there are some battles which have shaped the history of the Chapter and the people of Mortikah as we know it.


Castellax Campaign

The Castellax Campaign was a joint operation by the Ordo Xenos and the Guardians of the Covenant. The campaign was centred around the forge world of Castellax which was beset from all sides by a vast ork invasion fleet. Castellax had been an important forge world during the Great Crusade, producing all manner of war gear of the Legiones Astartes. As of the forty-first millennium, the world was heavy with war relics that could never be replaced if lost.
The Inquisition answered a desperate plea by the Adeptus Mechanicus that a vast ork fleet was approaching. The xenos were bent on looting the the planet and moving on to the nearby heavily populated sub-sector. If the orks succeeded at Castellax, the Imperium would be thrown into another bloody war of attrition.
Warp travel is fickle, and it took a good part of four months to journey from Mortikah VII to Castellax. During that period, the vile orks gained a secure foothold on the south pole of the planet. Using it as a staging ground to invade the rest of the planet by looting enough precious war machines to build their own ramshackle abominations. The Mechanicus-aligned knightly House Rajax together with the Legio Silentium and the local Taghmata Omnissiah barely held back the green tide.
At the beginning of the fifth month of the journey, the Black Ships of the Inquisition together with several battle barges and strike cruisers of the Guardians of the Covenant, translated back to realspace near the Castellax system. The Space Marines deployed with drop pods and thunderhawks and even a few storm eagles made the descent, bringing the Emperor's Fury upon the vile orks. The battle was costly, as the orks already looted enough to make gargants and other heavy weaponry. In the end, the forge world of Castellax was liberated. The Adeptus Mechanicus, as a token of gratitude gifted three precious relic dreadnought chasses, which were kept in stasis for millennia, to the Chapter. And thus was the bond between both factions was further strengthened.


Kheres Crusade

The Kheres Crusade, or informally named the Crusade of Angels due to the Space Marine Chapters involved, was an operation between the Blood Angels and the Guardians of the Covenant. The former were exacting revenge on the vile hrud. The fighting was fierce and both forces fought to a standstill. Ever more hrud poured from the warp and the strike force consisting of the Blood Angels third company simply did not have the numbers and resources to wage a bloody war of attrition. What the Blood Angels were doing in a remote corner of the Imperium battling the hrud, no one but they themselves knew.
Though far from Imperial space, their pleas for assistance in battling the hrud were not misplaced. The Guardians of the Covenant Fourth Company answered the call in force, relieving the embattled Blood Angels and driving back the vile warp-spawned xenos. In gratitude of this timely intervention, the Blood Angels gifted a dozen ornate angelus-pattern jumppacks, resplendent with ceramite wings. Normally worn by the Chapter's elite, the Sanguinary Guard, the Grand Master of the Guardians of the Covenant fashioned them for his own armour and the remaining others for his Honour Guard. They can still be seen wearing the jumppacks to this day.


Lucian's Folly

The undertaking which eventually became known as Lucian's Folly started as a crusade into the Halo Zones to claim several uncharted sectors for the Imperium. By request of the High Lords of Terra, fully half of the Chapter was committed to the crusade. This force, led by Grand Master Lucian crusaded forth to bring the Emperor's light in the remote darkness of the Halo Zones. To Imperial scholars, this event is known as the Armeneus Crusade, but to the people and brothers of Mortikah VII, this tragic even will be forever etched into public consciousness as Lucian's Folly.
The undertaking begin with great applause and fanfare, as a great many Mortikans gladly joined the Astra Militarum in order to partake in the crusade. The departure of soldiers for the crusade was of a magnitude so immense, that the place where the many ships lifted off eventually grew into a bristling spaceport, named in honour of the lost Grand Master.
Where the Armeneus Crusade began full of wonders, glory and Imperial prowess, it ended in utter tragedy. Five months into the campaign, all astrotelephatical communication was lost after a warp surge seemed to brutally end the lives of every telepathic choir tuned in to the location of the crusade. Attempts to re-establish communication has proved futile, all traces of the crusade, which had numbers well into the hundred thousands as well as half a Chapter worth of Astartes, went cold. No contact was ever made again. The Imperium was set back by this loss, but the Chapter was sent reeling by the loss of five hundred battle-brothers, including the Grand Master and many veteran members of the Chapter. Never again would half the Chapter be committed again to one single campaign.

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: The Lelith Incursion. Part I

The Lelith Incursion

Part 1

 

One of the most famous battles the Space Marines of the Guardians of the Covenant have fought, the Lelith Incursion was also one of the must brutal, grinding the chapter down to almost two thirds of its strength, costing the lives of many Battle-Brothers. The campaign began with a cry for help from the distant world of Chordis, a planet colonised during a crusade, several centuries ago. All this reached the ears of Inquisitor Volkov, who requested an audience with Lord Guardian Solaceon. His plea was that the Chapter sent its full strength against this alien threat. Volkov, being a Psyker, had long felt a shadow approaching through his witchsight. He felt the threat was so dire, that the entire Chapter needed to rush forth to meet this threat.
With just the formal request for aid from Chordis, Solaceon and his Council of Angels found no reason to march the entirety of the Chapter to war. Something that had not been done since the Second Battle of Mortikah, several thousand years ago. And thus, not the Chapter, but a strike force comprising of elements of several squads from different companies led by Chaplain Olmas, the acting Force Commander, got seconded to the Ordo Xenos and in the ancient strike cruiser In Crimson Clad the expedition went forth to meet the Xenos threat.

The veterans of the Lelith Incursion can well remember these vile Xenos. They describe black and grey beings, clawed and fanged with red eyes. The Lelith were said to move with the shadows itself, utterly deadly and highly psychic. And there were so many. A seemingly sophisticated society with primitive but efficient ships of their own, the Lelith came forth from the uncharted regions of the Halo Stars in vast numbers. No one but the Adeptus Astartes could have met such a threat and hope to be the victor. Though the price would be high indeed.
Chaplain Olmas led the strike force valiantly, gaining a firm foothold on the surface of Chordis, digging themselves in. There was no resistance. Until night fell.
Brother Thetys was the first to fall. Out of thin air they came, clawing their way through sacred Power Armour as if it were wax. The onslaught was bloody and brutal. Within minutes, over a tenth of the strike force's strength had been sapped. The casualties on the side of the foe were even bigger. Between the gunmetal corpses, white armoured apothecaries waded through scythed and clawed Xenos bodies to reap the Chapter's Due.

Chaplain Olmas was quick to adapt to the Xenos' style of warfare, the Guardians of the Covenant having fought against countless alien races. He distributed the strike force's strength between concentrations of the enemy, his Battle-Brothers being supported by swift attack craft such as Land Speeders and Astartes Bikes. The weeks that followed were dangerous and lethal. Each force testing each other's strengths and weaknesses. It was a war of attrition. A brutal stalemate into which many bodies fair and foul were ground to a bloody pulp. Casualties on both sides were staggering, but the sheer overwhelming firepower combined with the stubbornness of the Crimson Brothers made sure they were slowly winning.
The world of Chordis got turned into a charred husk. There had been no trace of its inhabitants to begin with, but following the war, even the last traces of Imperial civilisation had been all but gone.
As Chaplain Olmas thought the battle done; the last of the Lelith had been put to the sword, he received word from the strike cruiser In Crimson Clad. Strange alien vessels were bleeding from the warp. Within moments, the sky of Chordis turned purple and strange semi-organic drop ships fell from the atmosphere, impacting upon the surface shortly after.
Chaplain Olmas suddenly understood that the fierce war on Chordis, that had cost the lives of so many of his brothers had been a mere test. Seeing no chance to return to the strike cruiser, he decided have the remnant of the strike force dug in, while the cruiser sent a a desperate plea for help.

It was well over a month later when the astropathic choir of the Spire received the distress call. Upon hearing it, Lord Guardian Solaceon gathered the entirety of the Chapter and gave the now famous speech of deliverance. In his mind it was clear. The threat was dire, and an entire sub-sector was threatened. No longer would the Guardians of the Covenant send a strike force or a company.
The entirety of the Chapter would answer the call to war.

To be continued

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: Mortikah

Mortikah

Mortikah VII as seen from its sister planet

Mortikah VII

The primary planet located in the green zone of its star Mortikah Prime is Mortikah VII. It is a world of many mountains and vales. With soaring snowy peaks and lush and verdant valleys in between. It is a world where grassy plains meet endless mountains and oceans clash with ancient volcanoes. But despite all this, it is a scarred world as well. War has been to Mortikah several times during its history and though the planet is recovering, it is doing so slowly. Unnatural canyons formed by planet killers and the ruins and volcanic rock formed long ago by chasms in the planet's crust are grim reminders of the ancient but terrible wars. Nevertheless, Mortikah is a majestic world reminiscent of Old Earth.
In its valleys are the cities and townships and near the rivers and seas are its ports. All but the Adeptus Astartes of the Guardians of the Covenant have forgotten about the wars. It is they who remain ever vigilant, for the threat of the vile alien is never far away.

 

Golgotha
 

The sprawling metropolis that is Golgotha is the official capital of Mortikah VII. To imagine Golgotha, one must envision a baroque city with lots of neogothic architecture, brass piping and narrow streets. To live in Golgotha is to live in a classic Imperial City, a meritocracy where the Astartes serve as overseers of the ruling class; an elite of educated men and women from all strata of society.
Golgotha is named after the first Lord Guardian of the Chapter, the Chapter Master at the time when Mortikah VII was first colonised. For his epic deeds and achievements in several early Halo Crusades, he was deemed saintly by the Ecclessiarchy. In one of the many green valleys of Mortikah VII, a small shrine was erected. It was only after thousands of pilgrims flocked to the shrine that the city of Golgotha was slowly formed. In place of the shrine, there stands a baroque Cathedral so vast, only the spires of the Guardians' Fortress-Monastery rise higher.

Golgotha - Old Quarter

Sparta

Like its namesake in the old Grecan legends of Old Earth, Sparta is first and foremost a martial city. It is this city where the biggest garrisons of the Spireguard are housed and Sparta is the global training centre for the thusly named planetary defence force. It is a city of plain architecture and buildings wrought from red stone and grim neccesity. Here the young men from all over the globe gather to train in the aspects of war. The more martially orientated Astartes stay here in a large Monastery-Outpost, overlooking the training and scouting for possible recruits, for the Chapter is ever in high demand.

 

Lucianport

The city of Lucianport was the place where Lord Guardian Lucian, a Grand Master of the Guardians of the Covenant of old, set out on an eventually doomed crusade into the Halo Stars, taking two whole companies with him, their strike cruisers swallowed by a volatile warp storm never to be heard from again. Despite all this, Lucian was deemed a hero, and the city grew into a metropolis of trade, located along the coastline and thus boasting both a sea- and a spaceport.

 

The Spire

The Guardians of the Covenant built their Fortress-Monastery on top of the world. It is located amonst some of the tallest peaks the mountain-rich planet has to offer. The air in and around these mountains is so poor in oxygen, that only someone with the enhanced physiology of a Space Marine could hope to survive there for long periods of time. With this the Astartes made sure the Spire is inaccessible to most. If not the locale of the vast construction would stop someone from travelling there, the thin air would prevent one from staying long.
To envision the Spire is to imagine a enormous cathedral with vast spires soaring up to the sun, adorned with gargoyles and belltowers, statues of heroes, Primarchs and the Emperor of Man depicted in numerous stained glass windows. At first glance, the Spire looks more like a lavishly adorned place of worship, but alongside the towers and halls, missile silo's, hidden gun turrets and other heavy weaponry point upwards at the clear sky, ever vigilant for whatever horrors may arrive from the uncharted worlds of the Halo Zone.
The inside of the Spire houses all the conventional things one might find in a Fortress-Monastery of the Space Marines, were one so lucky to set foot in one, let alone two to compare both. Aside of this all, the things that make the Spire truly unique are its vast Librariums and stacks of knowledge, both leather-bound parchment and digital and its galleries of exquisite artwork from all over the Imperium. It is said that the Spire was built not just to house its Astartes, but to guard this vast font of knowledge above all things.

Mortikah V

The fifth planet in the Mortikah system is the sister planet to Mortikah VII, it is a lifeless grey rock where life has never sprung from the earth. Though where it is poor in terms of life, it is ever so abundant in rich and rare minerals. It is for this primary reason that the Adeptus Mechanicus has built its outpost here in the form of vast forges and an ever growing mining operation.  It is from the bowels of Mortikah V that the iconic Mortikan ore is mined. The ore is made into steel, iron and gunmetal and used in a wide variety of objects. From the holy bolters the brothers of the Guardians of the Covenant carry, to the lasguns of the Spireguard and even the piping in the city sewerage. The dark copper coloured Mortikan Ore is as abundant in Mortikan society as the Chapter itself.

 

Heaven Forge

The primary forge of Mortikah VII is Heaven Forge. It is here where the war machines and materiél of the Chapter is made and maintained. Being a remote Chapter located on the rim of the Imperium and the galaxy at large, it is important to be self sufficient and supplies are ever in high demand. The strong bond between the Red Priests of Mars and the Guardians of the Covenant has made this possible. Many an adept has helped leading a crusade into the uknown, for riches and spoils will be waiting for those who dare venture into the dark.
Heaven Forge is backed by the rich minerals and ores that Mortikah V bears. Aside of aiding the Chapter, the Adeptus Mechanicus has its own agenda as well, and Heaven Forge is a big part of it.

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: The Chapter and the Imperium

The Chapter's Relations with the Imperium

Adeptus Mechanicus
 

The Guardians of the Covenant have indeed very favourable relations with the Priests of Mars. The simple fact that the Mechanicum and the Guardians of Mortikah have in common that they gather and catalogue a vast wealth of information is not the only cause of this. It happened that while crusading in the Halo Stars, a Grand Master of old unearthed several intact fragments of a Standard Template Construct and granted this boon of Old Night to the Adeptus Mechanicus. The favourable relations between both faction, which were already existent, would be forged in steel and gold henceforth. Over the centuries, the Priesthood of Mars gifted the Chapter many ancient relics of ages past, such as several Contemptor Dreadnoughts from the time when the Emperor walked amongst men and even two mighty Fellblades, which they uncovered from an ancient weapons cache.

Currently, the Adeptus Mechanicus has a firm presence in the Mortikah system, occupying the Mortikah V, a barren, lifeless planet which holds vast amounts of Mortikan Ore, which is mainly used to create weapons which have a distinctly coppery colour despite being regular gunmetal. Mortikah V is a small planet, but has vast manufactorii and forges for its size.

 

Adeptus Astartes

As would be expected of one of the Unforgiven, the Guardians of the Covenant have good relations with their Primogenitor, the Dark Angels and the other Unforgiven chapters, but because of their remote location and passive role in hunting the Fallen, they aren't privy anymore to many of the Inner Circle's secrets and dealings.
The relations with other Chapters differ from friendly, to little more than neutral at best. Many of the Chapter's dealings and rites are frowned upon by the more martial Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. Since a Guardian of the Covenant is unique in dedicating equal time to scholarly arts as to the ways of war, some Chapters may think of the Guardians as a lesser Chapter, not matching their own prowess in battle, though nothing could be further from the truth. Those who have fought alongside the in crimson clad brothers know better, they laud the way the Guardians of the Covenant do battle; studying their foes extensively and using minds as keen as a blade to analyse and construct a fitting plan of battle.


The Inquisition

The Holy Ordos of the Emperor's Inquisition has relatively favourable ties with the Guardians of the Covenant. None more than the Ordo Xenos. The Alienhunters have worked together with the Sons of Mortikah for thousands of years. This made sure both the Chapter and the Ordo Xenos have bonds forged in fire over the course of millennia. This relationship has clear reasons: the Guardians of the Covenant have extensive knowledge and have purged and catalogued thousands of Xenos and they are situated on the galactic rim near the Halo Stars, an uncharted region where many dangers lurk.
Over the centuries, the presence of the Inquisition has gained a firm foothold on Mortikan soil. First and foremost the Ordo Xenos has a presence in Golgotha, the Mortikan capitol under leadership of Inquisitor Basel Volkov and Watch Commander Crixus of the Deathwatch.
Secondly, the Witchhunters of the Ordo Hereticus have had a small presence as well, but the Inquisitor leading the coven has disappeared when leading a crusade into the Halo Stars. A small detachment of the Adepta Sororitas remains in the Cathedral of the Saviour Emperor in Golgotha.


Imperial Guard

Throughout their history, the Guardians of the Covenant has given shelter and supplies to Imperial Guard regiments heading into the Halo Stars. From weaponry to men-at-arms. Mortikans have supplied the armies of the Emperor with fresh sons and daughters to serve faithfully in one of the many regiments of the Imperial Guard.
It was only natural that after Mortikah got attacked by the insidious Eldar, the population founded a planetary defence force. This force, named the Spireguard after the Guardians' Fortress-Monastery, specialises in peacekeeping, policing and the defence of the Mortikah System when the Guardians of the Covenant are away from their planet. The Spireguard are equipped as regular guardsmen, wearing long crimson greatcoats with an ivory single sword emblem to set them apart from the crossed swords of their Astartes brethren. Armed with lasguns and combat knives and well disciplined, any invader would have trouble besting these brave soldiers defending their homes.

Future Ideas: Custom Sammael, Predator Assassin Squadron

Predator Assassin Squadron

Recently, i've been musing about some really, really cool ideas for my Guardians of the Covenant Apocalypse army.
Slowly but surely, I've been building towards an Predator Assassin Squadron. With the first lascannon Predator already done and a second one in black basecoat, I'm now turning my eyes towards a third one.
The third predator will be the Squadron's leader. So it has to be special.
Let's look at the specials:

1. I can choose for a Predator MkIVC. With it's reinforced symmetric turret and custom lascannon-sponsons, it's a pretty thing for one's eyes. If you can spot the differences that is.

2. I could also choose for a Deimos Predator. With it's dome turret and archaic looks it would stand out more than the MkIVC. There is one "but". The Deimos Predators aren't made to fit Forge World's dozer blades. And a big feature of the Assassin Squadron is that I want to oufit them all with dozer blades.

3. Thirdly, I could just go for a regular Predator as well and give it lots of extra gubbinz. I've still got a spare Baal Predator front plate and other shenanigans. Maybe I could outfit it with a reinforced hull from FW?

So, there's some choices. And boy, how I am *NOT* good with choices.

 

Custom Sammael on Jetbike

On the other hand, another great conversion project has been bubbling from my mind for quite some months now. Ever since the Scimitar jetbike got released, I've been thinking of buying one and converting it my custom Sammael.
I know some people don't like the Scimitar and think of it as very "phallic" in nature. Hence being called the dickbike lovingly. But I quite like it.
I have some spare robed Ravenwing legs and torsos lying in my bitz and I was thinking of using the head from the Dark Vengeance Company Master. I know some would call be mad and point at GW's Sammael and how majestic it looks with the aquila on front and all that robed goodness. But naw. That's Sammael, and I don't want my Guardians of the Covenant to be simple "Dark Angels in a different colour scheme".
In my Lore-post, I've already come up with a name for this noble warrior and his metal steed: Grand Master Drachyon and his jetbike Mercurion

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: Chapter Organisation

Index of the companies of the Guardians of the Covenant and their Masters.

1st Company – Convenio Mentoris “Gathering of Teachers”

The First Company is known as the Covenio Mentoris, its members are called Mentors. It is their task to instruct the neophytes and brothers of the Chapter. Their wisdom is vast and they are each warriors without peer. Traditionally, they are clad in Terminator armour, and like their predecessors, the Deathwing, they operate in elite squads with unique equipment. Even within the elite of the Chapter, there is a core of warriors of even greater prowess and renown. These are the Knights of the Covenant; ancient and wise warriors, carrying arcane relics into battle. The Knights of the Covenant are led by Grand Master Trayarch, the Master of the First Company.


2nd Company – Convenio Venator “Gathering of Hunters”

The Second Company, known as the Convenio Venator, the Gathering of Hunters. This Convenio is an offshoot of the Ravenwing and originally served the same purpose as their primogenitors: the hunt for the Fallen. Over the centuries, the Gathering's paradigm has shifted from hunting the Fallen to becoming a highly mobile surgical strike force. The Convenio specialises in bikes and Land Speeders, the latter of which they can field entire squadrons. The Second Company has an elite core of veterans as well. These are called the Black Knights, similar to their Ravenwing counterparts. The Black Knights wear jet black suits of archaic power armour under their flowing crimson robes and it is their task to hit the enemy where the fighting is fiercest. The Convenio is led by Grand Master Drachyon, who rides into battle Mercurion, an ancient Scimitar-pattern jetbike.


3rd Company – Convenio Tutores “Gathering of Guardians”

The Third Company, the lauded Convenio Tutores or Gathering of Guardians, is the most renowned of the battle companies. It is they who are on the forefront of the many battles the Guardians of the Covenant are involved in, and they serve as the solid backbone of the fighting strength of the Chapter. The history of the Convenio Tutores is a long and glorious one and they are the exemplars of how the Imperium and the Mortikans view the Brothers of the Chapter. The Gathering of Guardians is led by Master Isolder.

 

4th Company – Convenio Fides “Gathering of Faith”

The Fourth Company, also named the Convenio Fides or Gathering of Faith are the second battle company of the Chapter. They too are part of the backbone on which the Chapter relies. The Convenio Fides has earned renown when the full Company deployed en masse during the Lelith Incursion, where the company, despite heavy losses, was able to hold the line against the shapeshifting ultra-violent tide of Xenos known as the Lelith. The name of the Convenio has its origins in the Reclusiam; it was from this Convenio that the Chaplaincy traditionally recruited its members. The Company is led by Master Tarvanix.

5th Company – Convenio Pares “Gathering of Equals”

The Fifth Company of the Guardians of the Covenant is traditionally the company in which Battle-Brothers first come together as Tactical Marines, hence the name Convenio Pares or Gathering of Equals. In this company a Brother will be first put to the test to utilise all his skills, whether it be assault, devastator or tactical duty. The company rarely deploys in full strength, but instead sends of one or more squads as part of a multi-disciplined strike force led by a Force Commander. The Company is led by Master Zahariel.

6th Company – Convenio Armatura “Gathering of Armour”

The Sixth Company is a deviation from the Codex Astartes as laid down by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. It is the Sixth Company that mans most of the vehicles in the armory of the Chapter. The Convenio Armatura, or Gathering of Armour holds over a hundred Predator Tanks, Rhinos, Razorbacks, Vindicators, Whirlwinds and Thunderhawks, and many relics such as Deimos Predators, Storm Eagles and even an indomitable Fellblade. The Convenio has a large number of Techmarines which are tasked to maintain the vehicles and dreadnoughts in the armoury. The Company is traditionally led by the Master of the Forge,  Luthenas Vairez.


7th Company – Convenio Animus “Gathering of Courage”

The Seventh Company, named the Convenio Animus in High Gothic, or come commonly, the Gathering of Courage is a dedicated Devastator Company. After a set period in the Convenio Robus, a Battle-Brother will be transferred to the Convenio Animus to be well versed in the arts of long range warfare. It is these brothers who wield the heaviest weapons the Chapter has to offer. Seldom do they deploy as a Company, rather, like their brothers from the Eighth Company, they get assigned to Force Commanders to fulfil a specific role, often that of heavy fire support or tank hunters. The Gathering of Courage is led  by Master Monternus.

8th Company – Convenio Robus “Gathering of Strength”

The Eighth Company is the dedicated Assault Company. They are known as the Convenio Robus, the Gathering of Strength. It is in this company that a Battle-Brother gets tutored in the fine arts of close combat by the Company's veteran Astartes, after serving time in the Convenio Consilium. This Convenio is typically divided into ten squads of ten Brothers each, and rarely fights as one. Instead, the brothers within this Convenio are assigned as Assault Squads to other Companies or under the command of a Force Commander. The Company is led by Master Iactohin.


9th Company – Convenio Consilium “Gathering of Wisdom”

The Ninth Company, also known as the Convenio Consilium, or Gathering of Wisdom is the Company where a Scout that has passed the Practicum will learn how to fully use and utilise his Power Armour. It is effectively a Reserve Company and a place of learning for Battle-Brothers freshly donning their suits of armour. It is in this Company that those who have not already completed their Theoreticum, will do so. Hence the name the Convenio carries. If the Convenio Discipuli instructs a neophyte on how to be a warrior proper, it is the Convenio Consilium that teaches one to be a Space Marine. The Company is led by Master Bentagal.

 

10th Company – Convenio Discipuli “Gathering of Students”

It is in this very Company that a neophyte will be able to test his mettle against many threats as a Space Marine Scout. Here he will learn what it is to be part of an Astartes fighting force. Be it as stealthy commandos or front line troops. A member of the Tenth Company, the Convenio Discipuli or Gathering of Students will be subjected to a myriad of tests and courses to prepare himself to become a Battle-Brother of the Chapter. As a part of this Company, a Neophyte will be tasked to add a single piece of knowledge or art to the Great Library of the Spire, proving himself a graduate of the Theoreticum as well as the Practicum; earning him the Crimson Robes as well as the iconic gunmetal grey Power Armour. The Company is led by the Master of Recruits, Crastor Vaharix.

The Circle of Sages - Covenio Arcanum "Gathering of Secrets"

While not Chapter Company, the Convenio Arcanum, or Circle of Sages in Low Gothtic, takes an important place within the Chapter. It is effectively the Inner Circle of the Guardians of the Covenant. Where being a member of the Inner Circle originally meant being privy to the most dire of Chapter secrets, the Convenio Arcanum deviated from its primogentor over the centuries. Only the most wise and most celebrated Guardians are asked to join the Circle of Sages. As such, it is comprised mostly of veteran Astartes. There are a few exceptions however. Some Battle-Brothers have joined the Circle after adding an invaluable item to the Librarius of the Spire, or some have shown exceptional bravery in the tide of battle.
The Convenio Arcanum is led by the Supreme Grand Master, Xandor Solaceon.

 

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: An Introduction

The hull of the shuttle glowed brightly from atmospheric re-entry. The sturdy Arvus Lighter shook and the metal groaned as it plunged into the stratosphere. Soon, the clouds disappeared and the planet's surface became visible. Grassy plains surrounded by mighty, ancient mountains with snowy peaks. The planet seemed lush and unspoiled. Its cities and settlements rendered almost invisible by the raw natural splendour the world seemingly possessed. Here and there, ancient pockmarks, craters and old wounds were visible in the surface. But nature had long since healed the old wounds. The bulky shuttle soared through the sky and made a clear path towards one of the most imposing mountain ranges the world had to offer.
"Mortikah VII.. It has been a long time since I have been here," a weary but passionate voice said. It belonged to a old veteran of many wars. The sigil of the Inquisition adorned his chest and he sat calmly, waiting for their transport to arrive at its destination.
"You have been here before, master?" Said a younger voice, laden with careful curiosity.
"Indeed.." Came a thoughtful reply from the elder man.
The Arvus Lighter seemed to slow as it was close to arriving at its destination, delivering the Inquisitor and his protégé to a vast baroque landing pad adorned with leering gargoyles and heroes of ages past rendered in stone. The shuttle landed with a thump and pneumatic systems hissed as the ramp extended. As both men descended from their transport, they were utterly dwarfed by the grand splendour of the Fortress-Monastery in front of them. Built from endless reinforced and sculpted red brick, the Monastery looked like enormous Gothic cathedral, with high arches and stained-glass windows depicting red-robed angels. Every corner was sired by many ominous gargoyles looking down as if judging the puny mortals who dared approach their lair. The Fortress-Monastery was the size of several city blocks and its tall spires rose hundreds of meters into the clear sky of the mountain range, like tall guardians of the mountains surrounding them. The construction was as much a work of art, as a place of war. In between the spires, windows and arches, heavy cannons and lances pointed at the blue sky, like a defender looking up into the sky for a possible assailant. Ever vigilant.
The elder Inquisitor took several steps towards a heavy wooden door with ornate carvings before pausing and looking up once again at the terrific marvel of Man's architecture in front of him. "The Spire. Long has it been since I were last here," he said. "This is where the Angels reside. The Guardians of the Covenant."
"I have read about them, Master. Monastic, secretive Astartes, good ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus..," the apprentice begun. "..And that is only the very tip of the iceberg. I have a very old friend here," the Inquisitor replied. "But first, let us enter."
As they approached the heavy doors, two bulky iron giants wearing flowing crimson robes stood guard. As the two men approached, the glowing red lenses of their helmet followed their movements.
"Halt," a metallic voice said. "Identify yourselves."
The Inquisitor reached for his pocket and took out an ornate device with a stylised 'I', a symbol of office, an Inquisitorial Rosette.
"Inquisitor Basel Volkov of the Ordo Xenos. Welcome back to the Spire. You and your pupil may enter," the giant proclaimed as the Inquisitor put his Rosette back in a pocket of his black greatcoat. The Space Marines opened the heavy doors without so much as an effort, and both men entered the great hall of the Spire.

Origins
It is known only to few Guardians themselves from which time their Chapter stems. Knowledge is power, and the origins of the Chapter are secrets well guarded deep within the catacombs of the Spire, a vast baroque Fortress-Monastery hidden deep within the mountains of Mortikah VII.
The only thing that is certain, is the fact the Guardians of the Covenant were founded to stand vigil against the horrors that lurk beyond the Halo Stars, on the edge of the Segmentum Pacificus.
Inquisitors place the founding of the Chapter around M34, though some ancient scriptures and artistic renderings speak of a Chapter in the First Legion which carried the Chapter Symbol, Vigilatus on their banners.
During their millennia-long existence, the Chapter has stood watch over a region of space from which many alien threats find their origin. To better understand the myriad threats the galaxy had to offer, the brothers of the Guardians of the Covenant took upon themselves to record and catalogue all knowledge and information they could gather, eventually leading to works such as the Tome of Oblivion, a vast collection of knowledge, carefully gathered and indexed over the course of dozens of centuries. It is this the Battle-Brothers of the chapter are renowned for and it has earned them both praise and ire from the various institutions the Imperium consists of.

The quest for knowledge and understanding is what drives the Chapter. Passing the martial training will result in a suit of Power Armour for an aspiring Battle-Brother. However, they are expected to add a unique piece of knowledge, fully studied and well documented, to the Archives of the Spire. Only after a Brother has done this, will he earn the trademark Crimson Robe so often seen flowing over the dull grey Power Armour.

Beliefs
The Chapter places knowledge and understanding above all else. Though dogmatic worship of the Emperor is frowned upon by members of the Chapter, certain freedom of thought is given to Brothers of the Chapter. This has resulted in both zealous Space Marines as well as more open minded individuals. Guardians of the Covenant believe that no one entity but the Emperor holds the truth, and by congregating and sharing ideas, they can come closer to understanding this truth.

　
Chapter Doctrines
The Chapter is unique in that they value scholarly arts on an equal level to martial arts. Most Battle-Brothers are gifted individuals with unique skills that range from poetry to masonry and from biology to exact science.
The path to becoming an Astartes of the Chapter is a long and arduous one. A brother is expected to take part in the Practicum as well as the Theoreticum. The former earning them a suit of Power Armour, the latter earning a brother his Crimson Robes. The Practicum equals the training each aspiring member of the Adeptus Astartes receives over the course of many years until they become a full Battle-Brother. During this training, a brother of the Guardians of the Covenant will also attend the Theoreticum, a unique course of learning which is considered of equal importance to the Practicum. In order to pass the Theoreticum, a brother has to complete a Quest for Knowledge. This Quest can only be completed once the Brother has proven his worth by adding a unique piece of knowledge to the Archive or Librarium. A Battle-Brother is free to choose in what way this piece of knowledge takes form, be it music, scripture or science.

Through extensive knowledge, a Battle-Brother hopes to understand his situation and his foe.
The Chapter itself is divided into several Convenio, which translates to Low-Gothic as “Gatherings”. Each Gathering the equivalent of a Codex Company. A Convenio is led by a Dominus, or Company Master. These are gifted and wise individuals, each one taking care of a certain aspect within the Chapter. Together with the First Company, the Convenio Mentoris, they form the Convenio Arcanum. The Guardians of the Covenant equivalent of the Inner Circle, the Convenio Arcanum is led by the Xandor Solacion, Lord Guardian of Mortikah and Supreme Grand Master of the Guardians of the Covenant.

　
Status as Unforgiven
Though part of the Unforgiven and close ties to other Unforgiven Chapters, the Guardians of the Covenant, mostly due to their remote location, do not actively hunt the Fallen like their primogenitor and fellow successor chapters. Though aid will be given when requested, the Chapter's Convenio Venator, which was originally formed after the primogenitor's Ravenwing, seldom rides out for one of the cast-down members of the legion from whence they originated.
This has further lead to an already isolated status apart from the rest of the Unforgiven. Nevertheless, the Guardians of the Covenant are proud of their heritage as Sons of the Lion and follow many traditions laid down by their parent legion and Chapter