Sanguinary Guard
The Sanguinary Guard, also known as the Ikisat or the Burning Ones[3], are the utmost elite of the Veterans of the Blood Angels, proven in mind, body, and spirit, and exemplifying the values of their Primarch Sanguinius to an extent no other Space Marine can.[Needs Citation]
Contents
History
This hallowed Order of warriors traces its lineage back to the personal bodyguard of their Primarch, fighting by his side in the most terrible battles imaginable, before being nearly wiped out during the assault on Horus' battle barge.[Needs Citation]
Only a single survivor remained of that august force: Azkaellon, Herald of the Primarch, and only because Sanguinius insisted that he remain on Terra. It was on his shoulders that the heavy burden befell of the reconstitution of the Order, to serve as a beacon of hope for the dark days that lay ahead. It is largely through his efforts that the legacy of the Sanguinary Guard survived in the Blood Angels, and spread to all its Successors.[1a]
Ten thousand years later, after the formation of the Great Rift, the Sanguinary Guard again faced destruction against Hive Fleet Leviathan. In the ensuing Devastation of Baal, only a single member of the Sanguinary Guard, Caraeus, survived. However, in the aftermath, its ranks were quickly replenished thanks to Primaris Space Marines.[2]
Wargear
Unlike other Veterans, the Sanguinary Guard do not select wargear according to their expertise, but instead use weapons and armor traditional to their Order: the wrist-mounted Angelus Boltgun and the Glaives Encarmine, two-handed Power Weapons. Golden Artificer Armour girds their bodies, and baleful Death Masks cover their faces, while they leap into battle courtesy of winged Jump Packs. Depending on the situation, they may carry the Chapter Banner to war.[1c]
Successor Variants
All the Blood Angels' Successor Chapters maintain Sanguinary Guards, following the same colour scheme as that used by the Blood Angels, with the exception of the Angels Encarmine, whose Sanguinary Guard instead wear alabaster white armour.[1b]
Notable Members
- Sepharan - Exalted Herald of Sanguinius
- Caraeus - Exalted Herald of Sanguinius
- Daeanatos - Exalted Herald of Sanguinius
- Brother Dontoriel
- Brother Erephon
- Brother Saronath
- Brother Varrian
- Azkaellon (Heresy-era)
Images
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition)
- 2: The Devastation of Baal (Novel) [Needs Citation]
- 3: The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence, pg. 124