Adeptus Custodes

The Custodian Guard, otherwise known as the Adeptus Custodes, or Golden Throne Guard, are a fictional group of genetically engineered super soldiers that served as the Emperor of Mankind's personal guardians in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000.

History
There is no set date for the inception of the Adeptus Custodes, but it is known that they have been active since well prior to the Great Crusade. It was from the Emperor's first group of bodyguards that the first genetically-modified super warriors were created during the unification wars on Holy Terra after the Age of Strife. Nevertheless, during that time, they were not yet known as the Adeptus Custodes.

They are the 'Dread Guardians', and the only living beings permitted to walk beside the Emperor. The Custodes were the greatest group of physiologically and psychologically enhanced troops the Emperor had ever created, ten thousand strong and the best trained, most disciplined and most vigilant watchmen in the Imperium. Now ensconced deep within the Sanctum Imperialis on Holy Terra, they watch over the corporeal body of the Emperor.

Before the Horus Heresy, a unit of Custodes used to accompany the Emperor at all times, even when he retired to his private chambers. During the Great Crusade, these great warriors always kept a contingent with the Emperor for his protection, but also traveled individually as envoys. Even in the days before the Heresy, it was a rare and blessed thing to see a member of the Adeptus Custodes, and due to the confinement of the Emperor to the Golden Throne, it has become an almost unthinkable event. Even during the Heresy, a group of Custodes joined the Emperor upon Horus's ship, the Vengeful Spirit.

Since the death of Horus and the wounds inflicted upon the Emperor, the Adeptus Custodes have taken a new, more limited role of protectors of the physical manifestation of the Emperor on Holy Terra. They also serve individually as envoys on a number of Imperial capital ships, to ensure that the Emperor's will is done.

The Adeptus Custodes were instrumental in the ending of the rule of Lord Vandire and the Age of Apostasy. It was the actions of a few members of the Adeptus Custodes, utilising secret passages known only to themselves, which caused the Sisters of Battle, then known as the Brides of the Emperor, to realise the acts of base treason perpetrated by Vandire. After their leader, Alicia Dominica, was brought before the Emperor by the Custodes she returned and executed Vandire for his Heresy.

Role and Capabilities
The similarities in form between the Adeptus Astartes and the Adeptus Custodes indicate the two groups may be related, although it has never been confirmed that members of the Adeptus Custodes undergo the rigorous genetic change in the same way as the members of the Adeptus Astartes. It was implied in False Gods that the creation of a Custode was a long and arduous process, utterly different from the creation process of a regular Astartes and much costlier, thus their relatively small numbers. Like the Grey Knights they are utterly incorruptible. They have the final word on security in the Imperial Palace, and even the High Lords of Terra are subservient to them within its walls.

They are warriors unmatched in the galaxy, genetically engineered by the Emperor himself. The Emperor engineered few of these warriors as the swifter method using gene-seed became more viable. The martial capabilities of the Adeptus Custodes remain largely unknown. What is known is that they possess skill beyond even a 'normal' member of the Adeptus Astartes. It has been said that the Adeptus Custodes are to a Space Marine what a Space Marine is to a member of the Imperial Guard. They are similar to the Grey Knights, the militant arm of the Ordo Malleus branch of the Inquisition, in that both are elite, secret organisations with close ties to the Emperor. Custodes are unique as, unlike the Grey Knights, they have neither a Primarch nor geneseed, they are also far stronger, quicker and more impressive than any Space Marine or Grey Knight. They stand a full head taller than a Space Marine and it's said that they were almost the same size as a Primarch. In fact it was said that Constantine Valdor, Chief Custodian to the Emperor during the Horus Hersey, was the same size as the traitor Primarch Alpharius of the Alpha Legion.

Although their numbers remain unknown, three hundred Custodes guard the Emperor's chambers at all times. (see below)

The Companions
Only three hundred of the Adeptus Custodes serve as the actual personal guard of the Emperor. These are those that are privileged enough to be in the Emperor's presence as such. Each unit of Companions is led by a Centurion. It was one such Centurion that led a small group of Companions to meet Alicia Dominica, head of the Brides of the Emperor (later Sisters of Battle) during Vandire's Reign of Blood. One such Custode, Constantine Valdor, who was the Chief Custodian during the Heresy. He was the most honoured of all the Emperor of Mankind's creations. No other being had served the Emperor for as long as he, save Malcador the Sigillite. Valdor was a proud and respectful warrior unmatched in his devotion and loyalty to the Emperor. Valdor was ever-present at the Emperor's side, always protecting him from unseen enemies and saving the Emperor's life innumerable times. Along with Malcador, Valdor was his most trusted friend and advisor. Constantine Valdor was one of the first High Lords of Terra. He also had a close relationship with Dorn and Leman Russ, although initially Russ and Valdor didn't see eye to eye. Dorn was ever-present at the Palace during the Crusade and so Valdor and the Primarch spent much time together. On the other hand, Russ only earned Valdor's respect when the former defeated Horus in a sparring match. The two were then together during the battle of Prospero. There is no mention of when or how Valdor was killed if at all he was killed. He stepped down from command as a High Lord so that he could protect his beloved Emperor, now esconsed within the Golden Throne. It is more than likely that he still protects the Emperor to this day.

Equipment
Recent conversion modeling done by Games Workshop staff on the official website show the Adeptus Custodes as wearing gold coloured armour. These superior warriors can be seen adorned with all manner of lightning bolt (the symbol of the Emperor prior to the Imperial Eagle), aquiline and knightly crosses. Little is known of the equipment and capabilities of such a secretive organisation, but the visual sources (such as a diorama of the Golden Throne within the 3rd Edition Rulebook) give the impression of immensely ornate armour.

Custodians are typically seen with a Guardian Spear which, in the days before the Horus Heresy, was a combination of force halberd with boltgun. A gladius is normally seen at their side and it must be noted that they have access to all the equipment of any Chapter of the Space Marines. In more recent portrayals, the Custodes have been depicted with a force halberd and a storm bolter, continuing their similarities to the Grey Knights. Players wishing to convert and play a Custodes army are encouraged to use the Grey Knight rules laid out in the codex.

Rogue Trader
In Rogue Trader (Warhammer 40,000 edition 1) the Custodes were set out as the Guardians of the Emperor. They were said to bear their black robes, in keeping with the current edition, and the Guardian Spears, described by Rick Preistly as 'like ancient spears'. It was also stated that they were the best in the Imperium, better in fact than the Astartes.