Emperor's Champion
From Lexicanum
The Emperor's Champion is an essential part of any Black Templars army. The image of an Emperor's Champion striding across the battlefield is a sight that makes all but the most foolish creature fall back in fear.
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Overview
On the eve of battle, the Black Templar spend their time in meditation. It is alleged that at this point one of their number will be visited upon by a vision of the Emperor, guiding him to victory, he then presents himself to the company Chaplain for scrutiny. The Emperor's Champion is permitted to bear powerful artefact's from the armoury, namely the Armour of Faith and the Black Sword. Before battle, the Champion also leads the Templars in renewing one of the four Vows, each one adding a different effect during battle as it in stills the Black Templars with righteous fury. Those vows are: "Suffer Not The Unclean To Live," "Uphold The Honour Of The Emperor," "Abhor The Witch, Destroy The Witch," and "Accept Any Challenge, No Matter The Odds".
In battle he goes out to fight the enemy in the name of the Emperor. His presence serves as a fantastic inspiration to the rest of his battle-brothers, leading the whole battle-group to feats of prowess beyond that of even normal Space Marines and even if the champion dies on the battlefield (which is a bad omen) , his name and deeds are recorded and remembered for the rest of time.
By tradition, there is only one Emperor's Champion for the entire chapter, but in practice there is usually one Champion per Black Templar Crusade.
History of the Tradition
The tradition of the Emperor's Champion dates back to the time of the Horus Heresy before the inception of the Black Templars. The first Emperor's Champion was Captain Sigismund of the Imperial Fists. The Primarch Rogal Dorn bestowed upon him the new title during the attack on the Imperial Palace, where he served victoriously. The practice of the tradition remained with Sigismund after his separation from the Imperial Fists to become the Black Templars first High Marshal.
- In the novel Fulgrim by Graham McNeill, Rogal Dorn is given the title of Emperor's Champion upon his return to Terra as head of the Emperor's guard which might be the point of origin for the title.
Equipment
The Armour of Faith is gifted only to the Emperor's Champion. It is a Power armour crafted by the most skilled Techpriests, anointed with holy oils by servitors and with catechisms of hate written on it to protect it's wearer from any harm that may prevent him from fulfilling his duty.
