Dawn Guard (Dark Angels Successor)
Dawn Guard
“Join us brothers, join us in the darkness. For all you once were is no longer, and become a light standing against the tides of those who seek our destruction.Join us as we carry the light that cannot be relinquished.. And should you fade in glory, know that we will honor thy sacrifice, and one day join you.” - Oath sworn during final trial of Rites of Initiation.
The Dawn Guard are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter created during the 3rd Founding and successors of Dark Angels.
While members of the Dawnguard come from the genestock of Primarch Lion El’ Jonson, they are unique in that members of the Dawnguard are no longer within the vaunted Inner Circle of Dark Angels, due to heavy losses during the First Battle of Ullanor in the War of the Beast - resulting in the former chapter members of the Inner Circle having perished. The upper echelons of the Dark Angel command thought the chapter lost during the battle, and hence, no further members of the Dawnguard were promoted to the command.
However, one imperial Strike Cruiser remained - the Celestial Hammer. Thought lost, heavily damaged, and with no way to contact other allies, the cruiser attempted to return to Cormyr but was waylaid and lost in the Warp for centuries until it was finally able to emerge from the rift back to their homeworld within Subsector Aurealis - which was in flux due to a massive warpstorm severing communications to the greater Imperium.
There, the chapter was able to lick their wounds and rebuild the chapter. Reclaiming their ancient fortress monastery in the mountains of Cormyr IV, the chapter re-established a foothold in the area and liberated the subsector from a Bad Moon WAAGH that had taken up residence in their absence.
During the Era Indomitus, the chapter was able to re-establish communique with the Imperium Sanctus, and participated in the Indomitus Crusade - receiving well-needed reinforcements from Primarch Guilliman’s newly made Primaris Marines.
The Dawnguard are described as hungry to reclaim their lost glory of old, a stark contrast to their parent chapter who typically shun laurels and achievements. They frequently undertake endeavors with other arms of the Imperium’s military, and are described as chivalrous, tactful, and perceptive. They remain untrusting of outside sources however, preferring their own measures and proven battle methodology when working with other arms of the Imperium, surely a trait inherited from their parent chapter.