Blood Games
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This article is about the Adeptus Custodes exercise; for the short story by Dan Abnett, see Blood Games (Short Story). |
Blood Games are an exercise practiced by the Adeptus Custodes, through which members of the Custodes act as enemy combatants and attempt to penetrate the security of the Imperial Palace on Terra. This enables the Custodes to anticipate an enemy's moves and constantly update and adapt their security measures, to ensure that the Golden Throne remains unharmed.[1][2]
The original inspiration for the Blood Game came from the Palace Coup, after which Constantin Valdor recommended that the Custodian Guard hold “war games” to keep them on their toes.[4]
During the Bloodborn's invasion of Calth, Judd Clausel, Chaplain of the Ultramarines 4th Company, suggested to Captain Uriel Ventris, that he try to "think like the enemy," citing the example of the Blood Games, in order to determine where Calth's defenses might be vulnerable.[1]
Between the Horus Heresy and the Indomitus Crusade, a specialised corps was charged with recovering suitable subjects, including Chaos Space Marines, from across the Imperium to release within the Palace as part of the Blood Games to test the Adeptus Custodes' abilities in real conditions as most never left the Palace themselves.[3]
Sources
- 1: The Chapter's Due (Novel), Chapter 14, pg. 180
- 2: Blood Games (Short Story)
- 3: Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor's Legion (Novel), Valerian Chapter 2
- 4: Valdor: Birth of the Imperium (Novel), Chapter 17
