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Azrael

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"Forget your past life. From this day on you are simply a Dark Angel - nothing else is of consequence. The Chapter is all that matters"[4]

Grand Master Azrael[7]

Azrael is the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels Chapter and is one of the most secretive of the members of the already very secretive chapter.

History

He was recruited from the savages of the feral world Kimmeria but shows none of their uncultivated behaviors. He is best known for, other than his leadership of the Dark Angels, caring for the chapter banner, the scouring of Truan IX, and crushing a techno-revivalist cult during the Faze V Uprising. For decades he then disappeared but must have provided suitable services to the chapter for he later became a member of the Deathwing, Captain of the 3rd Company and then Master of the Deathwing in 917.M41. From there, he famously led the assault that slew the Daemonically possessed Governor of Sephlagm before subjecting the world to Exterminatus. He gained further fame during the Vendetta Campaign.[1] A charismatic and dynamic leader, he was an inspiration to those who fought along side him.[Needs Citation]

When the previous grand master, Naberius, died in 939.M41[1] in the Rhamiel Betrayal, Azrael fought alongside Ezekiel to recover his body as well as the Chapter Banner, and together defeated his killer, the Night Lords Daemon Prince Gendor Skraivok.[4] After the battle Azrael was quickly promoted and given the title Keeper of the Truth and now sits at the head of the Inner Circle. He not only leads the Dark Angels in battle but also orchestrates the hunt for the Fallen and guards the chapter's most precious and terrible secrets, many of which are known only to him and the previous chapter masters before him.[Needs Citation]

Towards the end of the 41st Millennium, Cypher turned himself in to Azrael and not only informed him that The Rock held the time-altering Tuchulcha engine, but that both Astelan and Typhus were seeking similar devices. After the intervention of the Watchers in the Dark Azrael agrees to work with Cypher and they eventually gather all 3 engines, creating a warp rift over Caliban. However as Fallen attempt to enter the portal and potentially change history and pleading from Ezekiel to let history be, Azrael reluctantly orders Tuchulcha to scatter everyone from the rift. However Azrael was not specific at which moment in time he meant, and the Fallen on Caliban ten thousand years previous were scattered as well. This leads to the dark reality that Azrael himself may have been indirectly responsible for the scattering of the Fallen by causal loop.[2]

In the aftermath of the disastrous Massacre at Darkmor Azrael organized a summit of all Unforgiven Chapters Supreme Grand Master's at The Rock. During the summit, Roboute Guilliman and his new Indomitus Crusade docks at The Rock and delivers much-needed Primaris Space Marine reinforcements. Relieved that Guilliman apparently did not know or at least did not care about the truth of The Fallen, Azrael pledged his forces to the new Indomitus Crusade.[5]

In the Era Indomitus the Dark Angels have accepted the new Primaris Space Marines out of necessity, but the Inner Circle remains skeptical of their presence but they have not gone through the strict rituals and tests of loyalty present to the rest of the Chapter. The Inner Circle began to debate over their worthiness to join their ranks. At the height of the debate Azrael staked his entire career on the Primaris Space Marine Apharan of the Deathwing, stating he was confident the Marine would pass a series of trials. Azrael personally oversaw Apharan's trials, and in the aftermath there could be no doubt of the Primaris' worthiness to join the ranks of the Inner Circle[6]. The Supreme Grand Master would later undergo the Rubicon Primaris and successfully became a Primaris Space Marine himself. Though Azrael is still healing from his wounds, he is now leading the Dark Angels against Abaddon the Despoiler and the Daemon Vashtorr's plot to destroy the Imperium, which has caught the Chapter in its jaws.[10]

Shortly after Azrael's conversion into a Primaris Space Marine, Vashtorr assaulted The Rock as part of the greater Arks of Omen Campaign. Though still recovering from his wounds, he nonetheless met the powerful Daemon at the Nameless Gate before the heart of The Rock itself.[11a] During their battle, Azrael was overwhelmed but able to score a vicious blow on Vashtorr and retreat back to his own lines while the Daemon was distracted by the arrival of Be'lakor.[11a]

After Vashtorr's abortive assault on The Rock, Azrael ordered that the Unforgiven gather in a strength not seen since the Horus Heresy. Assembling at The Rock, Azrael and his Inner Circle made for the Somnium Stars to end the threat of Vashtorr.[12a] In the subsequent Battle of Idolatros, Azrael was horrified to discover Vashtorr had converted the Dark Angels ancient homeworld of Caliban into a monstrosity known as Wyrmwood. Azrael led a boarding assault on Wyrmwood that would have seen them all destroyed at the hands of Angron had Dante and reinforcements from across Imperium Nihilus not arrived. However not even Dante could overcome Angron, and when all seemed lost Lion El'Jonson himself returned after ten thousand years of absence. Azrael quickly overcame his confusion and countless questions and coordinated the Imperial effort with Dante as The Lion took care of Angron. Azrael succeeded in evacuating Wyrmwood with Dante and the rest of the Imperials as the planetoid activated The Key.[12b]

Wargear

Upon becoming Keeper of the Truth, he obtained the traditional wargear of his predecessors; the master crafted Sword of Secrets, an ornate suit of Power Armour known as The Protector, The Lion's Wrath combi-plasma gun, and the ornate Lion Helm. The Helm is carried by a being of unknown origin (possibly a Watcher in the Dark), but it shows extreme devotion to its master.[Needs Citation]

During the Siege of Vraks the personal vehicle of Azrael was the Land Raider Prometheus named Angelis Imperator[3]

Images

Trivia

Azrael is named after the Archangel of Death of the same name in Hebrew and a few select pieces of Islamic lore. From an adapted form of Hebrew it means "Whom God Helps".

Notes

The "Azrael" who currently leads the Dark Angels is not the first Supreme Grand Master whose name was "Azrael". There had been a previous "Supreme Grand Master Azrael" who lead the Dark Angels during the Siege of Vraks. This is mentioned to the current Azrael by Kharn the Betrayer during the Pandorax campaign.[8][9]

See also

Sources

Uncited


Dark Angels and Unforgiven Forces
Headquarters Company Master (Primaris Master) • Lieutenant (Primaris LieutenantVanguard LieutenantDeathwing StrikemasterRavenwing Talonmaster) • Interrogator-ChaplainChaplain (Primaris ChaplainJudiciar) • Librarian (Primaris Librarian) • Apothecary (Primaris ApothecaryRavenwing ApothecaryDeathwing Apothecary) • Techmarine (Primaris Techmarine) • Chapter AncientCompany Ancient (Primaris AncientRavenwing Ancient) • Chapter ChampionCompany Champion (Deathwing ChampionRavenwing Champion) • Ravenwing Command SquadDeathwing Command Squad
Veterans Deathwing Terminator SquadDeathwing KnightsBladeguard Veterans (Deathwing Bladeguard Veteran Squad) • Company VeteransVeteran Intercessors
Battleline Tactical SquadIntercessor Squad (Heavy Intercessor Squad) • Infiltrator Squad
Close Support Assault SquadAssault Intercessor SquadInceptor SquadInner Circle CompanionsReiver SquadIncursor SquadAssault CenturionRavenwing Bike SquadRavenwing Black KnightsRavenwing Support SquadOutrider SquadScout Bike SquadRavenwing Land Speeder Squad (Land Speeder StormLand Speeder VengeanceLand Speeder DarkshroudStorm Speeder)
Fire Support/Scout Devastator SquadAggressor SquadHellblaster SquadEliminator SquadSuppressor SquadEradicator SquadCenturion SquadScout Squad
Dreadnoughts DreadnoughtVenerable DreadnoughtContemptor DreadnoughtRedemptor DreadnoughtMortis Dreadnought
Vehicles Invader ATVInvictorRhinoRazorbackImpulsorRepulsor (Repulsor Executioner) • PredatorGladiatorLand Raider (Land Raider PhobosLand Raider CrusaderLand Raider RedeemerLand Raider AresDeathwing Land Raider) • VindicatorHunterStalkerWhirlwind
Aircraft Dark TalonNephilim JetfighterStormravenThunderhawkDrop Pod
Special Characters AzraelBelialEzekielSammaelAsmodaiLazarus