Venerable Dreadnought

A Venerable Dreadnought is a variant of the standard Imperial Dreadnought combat walker used by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. Dreadnoughts are cybernetic combat walkers that house the mortal remains of a fallen Space Marine hero so that he may continue fighting for the Emperor and his Chapter even after his body has been fatally crippled. Venerable Dreadnoughts differ from standard Imperial Dreadnoughts in that their occupants are regarded as some of the oldest and wisest Space Marines still in service to the Imperium of Man. Venerable Dreadnoughts have fought in thousands of battles over the course of several centuries, or even several millennia. These Dreadnoughts, veterans of wars and battles now considered myth and legend by the younger Astartes of their Chapters have gained vast amounts of knowledge and insight on the ways of war. These ancient warriors have fought in battle for so long that they have become almost impervious to damage, Venerable Dreadnoughts can only truly be stopped by the complete and total destruction of their armoured sarcophagus. The vast amounts of knowledge and experience held by Venerable Dreadnoughts places them in high regard amongst the warriors of their Chapter, and all, from the lowliest Initiate to the Chapter Master himself will seek the ancient's advice.

Armament
Venerable Dreadnoughts are typically armed in much the same way as all other Dreadnoughts. Venerable Dreadnoughts are usually armed with a Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon and a long-range weapon arm. The most common close-combat weapons found on Venerable Dreadnoughts are a bladed version of the Dreadnought Powerfist sometimes referred to as a Dreadnought Powerclaw, these weapons are most common on Dreadnoughts of any type that utilise the Mark IV Dreadnought chassis. There are rarer patterns of Dreadnought Powerfists that take the shape of a four-fingered human hand, and ever rarer ones still that feature a full five fingers. These rare patterns allow Dreadnoughts the use of an opposable thumb, allowing a greater degree of accuracy when picking up objects or enemies. Venerable Dreadnoughts can take any of the long-range weapon arms used by other Dreadnoughts, such as twin-linked Lascannons, Heavy Bolters, or Autocannons, along with weapons such as Plasma Cannons, Inferno Cannons, Flamestorm Cannons, Multi-Meltas, and Missile Launchers. Venerable Dreadnoughts can also be armed with weaponry that is unique to certain Chapters, such as Psycannons, Nemesis Doomfists, and Power Halberds of the Grey Knights, Bloodfists and Blood Talons of the Blood Angels, and Dreadfire Fists such as those used on some Dreadnoughts of the Salamanders Chapter. Much like all Dreadnoughts, Venerable Dreadnought close-combat weapons are usually outfitted with either in-built weaponry or weapons that are attached to the underside of the walker's chassis, these weapons are usually either Storm Bolters or Heavy Flamers. Venerable Dreadnoughts can also be outfitted with extra armour plating, usually in the form of ostentatious icons of gold that depict the entombed warrior's tales of glorious battles and past victories. These Dreadnoughts can also be equipped with both searchlights and smoke launchers and any other upgrades that may be unique their respective Chapter.

Variants
There are several variants of the the Venerable Dreadnought, such as:
 * Chaplain Dreadnought - Chaplain Dreadnoughts are variants of the both the standard Imperial Dreadnought combat walker and its Venerable counterpart that house the broken remains of a Adeptus Astartes Chaplain. A Chaplain is a specialist officer of the Adeptus Astartes and serves as the appointed spiritual leader of a Space Marine Chapter. Chaplains are the warrior-priests that minister to the spiritual well-being of their fellow Battle-Brothers, instilling in them the values and beliefs of the Chapter and promote the veneration or in rarer cases the actual worship of the Emperor of Mankind. When a Chaplain falls in battle and is damaged beyond repair they may be placed in a Dreadnought, as Chaplains offer their Battle-Brothers unparalleled spiritual leadership, a Chaplain afforded the honor of transforming into a Dreadnought becomes a highly respected living shrine to the glory of the Chapter. These Dreadnoughts are treated the same as any Venerable Dreadnought, and since many Astartes Chaplains are some of the best warriors a Chapter has to offer they are able to provide the same amount of knowledge and insight that other Venerable Dreadnoughts can.
 * Furioso Dreadnought - The original Furioso Dreadnoughts of the Blood Angels Chapter and their many Successor Chapters are all considered Venerable Dreadnoughts in their own right as many of these warriors saw combat during the Horus Heresy. While many of the Furioso Dreadnoughts found in these Chapters are much younger they are still considered Venerable Dreadnoughts as only oldest and most experienced Dreadnoughts of these Chapters are armed with Furioso pattern weapons. The only exception to this rule are Dreadnoughts that become part of a Chapter's Death Company, these Death Company Dreadnoughts are always armed with either Bloodfists or Blood Talons, this is so they can cause as much damage as they can during combat, and also because the Black Rage makes it very difficult for them to use any long-range weaponry. Furioso Librarian Dreadnoughts are also considered Venerable Dreadnoughts.

Known Venerable Dreadnoughts
The following are all known Imperial Venerable Dreadnoughts:
 * Bjorn the Fell-Handed - Bjorn the Fell-Handed of the Space Wolves Chapter is the oldest living Space Marine in the Imperium of Man at over 10,000 standard years old, Bjorn fought during both the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. Bjorn is now entombed within the armoured sarcophagus of a Mark V Dreadnought Chassis. After the Hours Heresy, before Bjorn was placed into a Dreadnought, the Space Wolve's Primarch, Leman Russ, departed for the Eye of Terror along with the entire 13th Company in order to find a way to heal the Emperor. Leman Russ left Bjorn behind which left him harboring intense feelings of rejection and bitterness to this very day.
 * Daenyathos - Daenyathos of the Soul Drinkers Chapter is a Venerable Mark IV Dreadnought. Before Daenyathos was entombed within the armoured sarcofagus of a Dreadnought he was considered a Philosopher-Soldier, and he penned the Catechisms Martial, the standard all Soul Drinkers live by. Unfortunately, Daenyathos would become corrupted by Chaos and eventually lead the Soul Drinkers into damnation. Daenyathos was destroyed during the 41st Millennium by Sarpedon, the final Chapter Master and Cheif Librarian of the Soul Drinkers. Sarpedon and the final two survivors of the nearly extinct Soul Drinkers disappeared into the Warp, dragging the barely alive remains of Daenyathos with them.
 * Astramael - Astramael is a Venerable Furioso Dreadnought of the Blood Angels Chapter. Astramael personally led all 41 of the Chapter's Dreadnoughts in the defence of Baal during the Battle of Iron, which marked the end of the Invasion of Baal by the WAAAGH! of the Big Skorcha in 789.M41.
 * Morleo Moriar - Morleo Moriar, also known as Moriar the Chosen, is a former Captain of the Blood Angels 4th Company. Moriar fell in combat in the fields of Clamorga, yet so great were his deeds that he was honoured by being entombed in a Furioso Dreadnought. When Moriar awoke from his slumber he almost immediately fell to the Black Rage, however Moriar survived the mental brutality of the curse and now fights alongside the Blood Angels as a Death Company Dreadnought, known as Moriar the Chosen.
 * Damos - Damos is a Venerable Dreadnought of the Angels Porphyr Space Marine Chapter who has served for more than 3,000 standard years. Damos was the former commander of the Chapter's 9th Company, and under his command the 9th was considered a model of the Devastator doctrine. Unfortunatly, during the scouring of Hume, a surprise air attack on his position at Hill 236 caught Damos out in the open as he moved about the positions bunkers, enemy Marauder Bombers bombarded his position for several hours, eventually Damos' body was recovered but was declared shattered beyond the skill of the Chapter's Apothecaries to repair. Damos' body was placed in stasis and transferred to the Chapter's Fortress-Monastery where it was laid to rest in the armoured sarcophagus of a Dreadnought.
 * Orias - Orias is a former Grand Master of the Grey Knights Space Marine Chapter. Orias fell in combat battling the Daemon Prince Herperitus. While he was being treated to by the Chapter's Chief Apothecary, the entire Chapter assembled to await his death with all ten of the Grey Knight's Brother-Captains watching over him until his soul would join with the Emperor. Orias's shattered body remained unmoving for three days and nights and it appeared as if he had died, but in the end the Grand Master simply gave a single nod of his head. The Brother-Captains debated and ultimately agreed that Orias had signalled his permission to be placed within an Aegis Dreadnought with his remaining strength. The simple nod was consent for his continued service which led to him being placed in a sarcophagus upon which the ritual of internment began.
 * Aeneas - Aeneas is a former Grand Master of the Grey Knights Space Marine Chapter. Aeneas led the Chapter for 55 standard years during M37, until being mortally wounded in combat against Ahriman the Arch-Sorcerer.
 * Sybra - Sybra was a former Venerable Dreadnought in service to the Exorcists Space Marine Chapter. Sybra heroically sacrificed himself during the Aschen War in order to weaken the Daemon Prince known as the Horned God enough for the Chapter Librarian Malachite to banish the creature back to the Warp.
 * Bannus - Bannus was a high-ranking member of the Iron Hands Space Marines. Having since become entombed in the armoured chassis of a Venerable Dreadnought, he has become a Clan Leader of Clan Kaargul and has a place on the Chapter's Clan Council.
 * Nalr - Nalr is a Chaplain Dreadnought of the Red Scorpions Space Marine Chapter, Chaplain Nalr fought alongside his Chapter during the Siege of Vraks.
 * Pawel - Pawel is a Mark IV Venerable Dreadnought of the Red Scorpions Space Marine Chapter, he fought alongside his Chapter during the Siege of Vraks.
 * Davian Thule - Davian Thule is the former Captain of the Blood Ravens 4th Company. Davian Thule was mortally wounded while fighting against the Tyranids on the planet of Typhon Primaris and placed in the armoured sarcophagus of a Dreadnought, but would later be lauded as a Venerable Dreadnought for his service to his Chapter.
 * Kleitor - Kleitor was the former Captain of the Astral Claws 5th Company prior to his internment into a Mark IV Dreadnought sarcophagus. It is unknown if Kleitor survived the Badab War, where his Chapter turned against the Imperium.
 * Kraai - Kraai is a Venerable Dreadnought of the Raven Guard Space Marine Chapter, Kraai has served the Raven Guard for over 4,000 standard years.
 * Titus - Titus is a Venerable Chaplain Dreadnought of the Howling Griffons Space Marine Chapter, Chaplain Dreadnought Titus fought alongside his Chapter during the Badab War.
 * Sokhar Bray'Arth Ashmantle - Sokhar Bray'Arth Ashmantle, also known as simply Bray'Arth Ashmantle is a Venerable Ironclad Dreadnought of the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter. Sokhar is the current occupant of the Iron Dragon Ironclad Dreadnought chassis, which is believed by the Salamanders to be the very first Ironclad Dreadnought chassis ever constructed, and that it was made by their Primarch Vulkan himself.
 * Secarssa - Secarssa, also known as the Bow of Ma'dan was a Venerable Hellfire Dreadnought of the Mantis Warriors Space Marine Chapter, he was destroyed in combat during the Siege of Endymon Prime, during the Badab War.
 * Barkus - Barkus was a Venerable Dreadnought of the Ultramarines Space Marine Chapter. Barkus sacrificed himself during the Ork invasion of Espandor in M41 in order for the rest of the Ultramarines forces to safely retreat.
 * Enosh - Enosh is a known Venerable Dreadnought of the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter, it is known that Enosh is part of the Chapter's Death Company as a Death Company Dreadnought.
 * Rzasa - Rzasa is a known Venerable Dreadnought of the Red Scorpions Chapter.
 * Laskho - Laskho is a known Venerable Dreadnought of the Executioners Chapter.
 * Targas - Targas is a known Venerable Dreadnought of the Executioners Chapter.
 * Ephesios - Ephesios is a known Venerable Dreadnought of the Minotaurs Chapter.
 * Aega - Aega is a known Venerable Dreadnought of the Ultramarines Chapter.

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Gallery
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