Iron Angels
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The Iron Angels are a Space Marine Chapter.[1]
History
They have lost most of their history after a catastrophe destroyed their original Homeworld as well as the Iron Angels' records and upper echelons of their Chapter. Only a handful of their relics survived the destruction, which left the Iron Angels without their identity or the knowledge of their Founding Chapter. Despite these losses, though, they continued to serve the Imperium and in early M33 the Iron Angels would claim Magdalor as their new home and began recruiting Aspirants from its tribal population. The Chapter also hollowed out the peak of the world's tallest mountain, where they constructed their new Fortress Monastery, known as the Angels' Crown. The last of the Iron Angels' relics were then stored within the Monastery's deepest chamber and only brought forth at times of great peril.[1]
Over the following millennia, the Iron Angels fought with courage and honour, but ill fortune continued to stalk them. Due to their staunch code, forbidding retreat in the face of all but certain destruction, any savage conflicts the Iron Angels took part in cost them dearly. Their finite stocks of gene-seed also dwindled, as did the Chapter's recruitment of Aspirants, as Magdalor's population was culled by outbreaks of disease and psychic mutation. These issues persisted even as the Great Rift was created and the Iron Angels found themselves within the Imperium Nihilus. So it was that, when Abaddon the Despoiler led the Vengeful Spirit and a fleet of Black Legion warships into orbit over Magdalor, the Iron Angels were a diminished force of what they once were.[1]
The Chapter was still stubbornly defiant, however, and also possessed a formidable void fleet. Their warships sped from the Iron Angels' base above Magdalor's third moon and soon engaged the Black Legion's fleet. As that occurred, Meanwhile, several hundred of the Chapter's Battle Brothers manned the Angels' Crown's formidable defences and Astropath distress calls were sent out for aid. Despite doing so, though, the Iron Angels knew the battle would be over before any Imperials could help them. But with Abaddon himself leading the attack on Magdalor, the Chapter wanted to bring as many forces to bear on the Despoiler as they could. As the invasion of their Homeworld began, the Iron Angels fought across its surface, while Chapter Master Nymarn led the defence from the Angels' Crown. However, several of the Chapters' Librarians foresaw that Abaddon would teleport directly into their Fortress Monastery and laid an ambush for the Despoiler. The Iron Angels assembled for the attack, however, proved no match for Abaddon and the elite Black Legion forces the Despoiler brought with him. Soon Abaddon led an advance into the lower levels of the Fortress Monastery and worse still, the Despoiler's powerful Daemon ally, Vashtorr, invaded the Angels' Crown as well. Between the two forces of the Black Legion and Vashtorr's Daemonic army, most of the defenders are killed. Vashtorr also aided in this by corrupting portions of the Fortress Monastery, which led it to attack the Iron Angels.[1]
The remnants of the Chapter's First Company still stood defiant, however, and they were split between Chapter Master Nymarn and Reclusiarch Arzen. These two forces then defended the Iron Angels' Reclusiam and Apothecarion, where the Chapter's relics and gene-seed were stored respectively. Each would be destroyed, though, with Nymarn dying at Abaddon's hands, while Arzen was killed by Vashtorr. While the Iron Angels still fought on elsewhere in orbit and on Magdalor, the Angels' Crown had been cleansed by the invaders. With the last of the resistance now gone, Abaddon and Vashtorr entered the Iron Angels' Reclusiam and located the relic known as the Oathing Stone, which was the target of their invasion. With their goal now achieved, the Black Legion and Vashtorr's Daemons departed from Magdalor, leaving behind them what remained of the Iron Angels' devastated forces.[1]
Appearance
The colour of the Iron Angels' power armour is gunmetal and the Chapter's veterans wear robes.[1]
Known Members
Known Relics
See also
Sources
- 1: Arks of Omen: Abaddon, pgs. 17-20
- 2: White Dwarf 484, pg. 19
