Recruitment: The Angels of the Lion live by the ideals of teaching set by Asmodel. Their recruitment system has been perfected to produce maximal results and they recruit from several planets in addition to Ariel. The process begins with the aspirants first going through a set of ritual tests and ceremonies tightly observed by the recruiting Chaplains and their retinues. This is followed by physical and mental examination. The aspirants who pass are taken to the Chapter's Fortress Monastery for further rituals and tests. They must first survive a long trek through the woods and mountains of Ariel, avoiding the lions of Ariel, terrible beasts with strength and cunning rivalling those of the Fenrisian wolves. The survivors are again tested by Librarians and Apothecaries and then included to the Chapter in a great feast. |
LEGIO INFITIALES VENIA |
ANGELS of the LION By Michael White (Sandalphon) |
This article has been published with the kind permission of Michael White. Planetary image created by Shadow Guard |
Combat Doctrine: The training of scouts is a trait visible in everything the Chapter does, and combat is no exception. Every Strike Force includes at least one squad of scouts and each company, aside from the first, trains scouts constantly. The scouts begin their training in the 2nd company, called the Greetingwing for welcoming new brothers to the chapter and greeting the enemies with a hail of sniper fire. They move through reserve and battle companies before their promotion to battle brothers. The chapter has no preferred tactics because they seek to train the scouts in as many different ways of war as possible. This philosophy of training goes in fact much deeper, as its ultimate goal is to prepare the whole Chapter for their sacred duty as the Lion's Crusaders, and so the Angels of the Lion are in a state of constant preparation, ever honing their skills for the day the Lion returns to them. This makes the Angels not only one of the most vital Chapters, but also one of the most skilled in the ways of war. The 1st and the 10th companies make a slight exception to this, as they specialise heavily in their respective styles of warfare. The 10th company is a fast long range recon unit similar to the Ravenwing of the Dark Angels. They have even retained the name to honour the pilots of the Ravenwing who tutored them at the birth of the Chapter. The 10th uses unusually large numbers of Land Speeders due to the great oceans they are often called to traverse. This enables them to act effectively in support of the chapter's navy. The 1st, on the other hand, is called the Lion Guard and is constantly training to be the very best fighting force in the Imperium, a worthy company for a Primarch. They are privy to the secrets of the Legion's dark past and of their destined duty. They fight only in terminator armour and are always ready to assume a new approach to any given situation. Their sergeants are trained to become instructors themselves and after serving in the Lion Guard are transferred to the scout company for a set period of time. Thus the very finest of the Chapter train its new recruits and the 2nd company can be expected to handle every situation it faces even though its neophytes are inexperienced still. Last exception to the other Unforgiven and to the Codex: Astartes is the powerful fleet of surface ships the Chapter holds. The ships can be deployed from orbit, giving the Angels a very powerful and durable fighting force if the conditions on the target world allow its use. Famous Battles: The Battle of Dune: In 3669895.M41 the Angels of the Lion had traced down a coven of Fallen Angels. They had surrounded the excavation site where they thought their prey would be located, when the Chaos Lord Morgroth launched his ambush. Dreadclaw dropships seemed to fill the skies and daemonic screams echoed impossibly through the void of the barren sand-world. Cult-troops emerged from hiding underneath the sands. The enemy was suddenly everywhere and the Supreme Grand Master Azariel had little choice left. He could only sell his life dearly, or so it seemed. Unfortunately for the Slaaneshi traitors coming on from all sides, the Grand Master was a most skillfull tactician. He had initially gathered his forces around him in a defensive formation, but realising the superior numbers of the foe and the weakness of his position, Azariel ordered his troops to attempt a breakthrough of the enemy lines to reach his ships. Morgroth had anticipated this and committed his reserves in a deep-strike manoeuvre to block the Angel's path and allow the already deployed forces to assault the Space Marines from behind. When the Slaaneshi Lord stepped from his dropship, there was no enemy in sight. His terrible curses shattered the reality around him as he realised the Angels were attacking the backstabbing force head on with full power. The Chaos lines crumbled, but Azariel did not pursuit the retreating traitors. Instead, he ordered his troops to take a flanking action and pass Morgroth's deepstrikers who were now charging with all haste after them. The Angels succeeded in this using the rolling sand dunes for cover, but it was evident to Azariel that they would not reach their landing zone before being caught. Morgroth had already turned around and was even more furious for being tricked into such pointless charges. Azariel ordered the members of the First company to stay with him and hold the enemy to buy time for the rest to retreat. The charge came quickly and the fighting was fierce. The Angels did not back one step, but they had no chances of survival. Traitors fell like wheat around them, but when Morgroth stood against Azariel in single combat, there was no question of the winner. The monstrous Chaos Lord cut the brave Grand Master down, tore his head off and thrust it in one of the many spikes adorning his daemonic armour. He had exacted a small amount of vengeance, but the Angels of the Lion had evaded the trap and were on their way to rearm, vowing vengeance to their fell foe. The Betrayer: The Angels were celebrating their triumph over the the great purges of the terror lord S'Gruadar of the Night Lords in 2374943M41. Their ranks were finally filled again, thanks to Asmodel's inspired changes on the Chapter. This was the setting for a betrayal most foul. For one of the brothers harboured a sinister secret. Battle brother Amidian had been with the Chapter since before the Battle of Dune, but little did they know that he had been a casualty among the many others lying on those airless sands that day. The foul Morgroth, upon realising his prey was escaping, had turned on his fallen enemies, seeking for lifesings. In Amidian he had found these, and something even more important: a weakness of will. Thus was Morgroth able to sway Amidian to the service of the fell powers, and through chaos-spawned magic he moved his new pawn to the midst of the retreating Angels. Since then had a serpent lain amongst them. And while the ones who called him brother drank and sang, Amidian acted his lord's will. The first sign that shook them from their high spirits was Chief Librarian Anacron's shout of hatred, for he had detected the foul presence of the daemonic upon the very soil of Ariel. Amidian's treason proved to be two parted. First, he had in great secrecy converted many of Ariel's people into heretics. Secondly, he had disabled the ground to space planetary defences of Ariel. Soon Morgroth's fleet struck from the warp. A battle of epic proportions began, as the whole Chapter of the Lion was present and their foes were numerous. Morgroth committed but one mistake. He had underestimated Ariel's orbital battle stations. Sebastio proved to be very hard to conquer and this disoriented his landing operations. The enemy warbands could be dealt with one at a time and Asmodel, anxious to move the battle away from the frightened people of Ariel ordered the First company to be teleported to the space fleet. The veterans performed devastating assaults on the enemy fleet, allowing the rest of the Chapter to reach the orbit and joint the fray. Morgroth had began to realise he was fighting a losing battle. Meanwhile on Ariel Grand Masters Trajanus and Rico had discovered the traitor Amidian. By the fell powers of the warp he managed to escape, but the defences of Ariel were made fully functional, spelling death to Morgroth's fleet. He was forced to disengage and flee, evidently taking Amidian with him. The battle ended as soon as it had begun and left the Angels of the Lion wondering in silent disbelief the events that had took place. They raised their fists to the skies, cursing forever the name of Amidian, the only Angel of the Lion to ever have fallen to the service of Chaos. Battle Cry: "Repent! For the Lion is Come!!" |
Uniform & Insignia (Colour Scheme): The Angels of the Lion bear the dark green livery of their founding chapter, the Dark Angels. Their shoulder pads are trimmed with golden yellow, resembling the lion's mane and denoting their place as El'Jonson's personal guard. The Lion Guard retain the black tactical dreadnought armour first given to them by the Lion in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy. They re-painted the right shoulder golden yellow for the pride of Ariel. The Ravenwing have also retained their founding suits of power armour and altered it to resemble the Lion's Pride with a golden trim. 1st Co. : Lion Guard Black tactical dreadnought armour with a golden yellow left shoulderpad. They bear a white winged lion wielding a blood-red sword on their right shoulder. 2nd Co. : Greetingwing Dark green carapice armour, golden yellow shoulderpads. Camo Fatigues. They bear a black winged arm, with an open palm indicating greeting. 3-9th Co's. : The Lion's Pride Dark green power armour with golden yellow trim. They bear the winged lion with sword on their left shoulder. 10th Co. : Ravenwing Black power armour with golden yellow trim. They bear a golden one-winged claw wielding a blood-red sword 11th Co. : Intelligence Wing - Black robes. No distinguishable markings. |
