Sword Brethren

The Sword Brethren are the greatest warriors in a Fighting Company within the Black Templars Space Marine Chapter and organised into the Marshal's household, the equivalent of a Codex-Chapter's First Company. These Battle-Brothers are mighty heroes whom legend have become part of the Chapter's long and illustrious history, and it is every Black Templars ambition to become one of its elite. Clad in the finest suits of Power Armour and bedecked with crusader seals, the Sword Brethren are the very image of a baroque warrior knight of legend. Upon the death of a Marshal, it is from the Sword Brethren that his replacement will come and only the best and bravest are worthy of this great honour. The successor is decided through ritual combat, during which all who would contest the right to lead the Crusade will battle one another with various weapons as well as pitting their strategic and tactical prowess against their opponent. The winner earns the right to be Marshal upon approval by the High Marshal, and the Sword Brethren swear new oaths of loyalty to the winner.