Sanguinary Guard

The Sanguinary Guard are the uttermost elite of the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter whose lineage can be traced back to the dark days of the Horus Heresy. They fight with the weapons traditional to their honoured position - wrist-mounted Angelus pattern Bolt Guns with master-crafted Power Weapons known as Glaive Encarmine.

History
The lineage of the Sanguinary Guard can be traced back to the bygone era of the Great Crusade when they acted as the bodyguard to Primarch Sanguinius, fighting alongside the Great Angel through the most terrible of battles including, Dalos, Blindhope, Signus Prime and countless others. Until the Primarch met his ultimate fate, perishing in the assault on Warmaster Horus's Battle Barge Vengeful Spirit that ultimately claimed the Primarch's life. Only a lone member of the Sanguinary Guard survived the that final confrontation. Sanguinius's prescient vision of his own fate led him to insist that his Herald Azkaellon, remain on Terra so that should he fall, the Sanguinary Guard would not be extinguished. Once reconstituted by Azkaellon, they would go on to serve as a beacon of hope in the dark days ahead. Though he yearned to fight at his Primarch's side one final time, with a heavy heart Azkaellon acceded to Sanguinius's wishes. For he knew that he could not jeopardise the sacred duty entrusted to him. Follow his Primarch's final orders, the Sanguinary Guard managed to survive when the Blood Angels' Primarch did not, for Azkaellon made certain that their legacy was maintained, not just in the Blood Angels, but in every Successor Chapter that arose from the dissolution of the mighty Blood Angels Legion during the Second Founding.

The deeds of each Sanguinary Guard are recorded with reverent diligence. At high feast days, those rare occasions when the entire Chapter is gathered together, the Sanguinary Guard's deeds are recounted, delivered with gusto and pride by battle-steeped veterans to attentive Scouts and aspirants. They speak of Blind Erephon, who claimed he fought better without his eyes than he ever did with them, and who sealed the seven Daemon-gates of Derios IV Of Andrastor, who stood alone against the Tyranid swarm on Cripple Ridge. Of Saronath, whose coming was so terrible it set Waaagh I Rokchewa to flight, and of Sepharan, who entered the gates of hell itself to battle for his Chapter's soul. Of these warriors they tell, and of countless others, past and present. To join the ranks of the Sanguinary Guard is therefore no mere battlefield assignment, nor even an honour. Rather it is to enter a brotherhood of mortals-become-gods, to continue a legend ten thousand years old.

Wargear & Equipment
The Sanguinary Guards, unlike other Chapter's veterans, do not select wargear according to their expertise. Instead they fight with the weapons traditional to their position.
 * Artificer Power Armour - Members of the Sanguinary Guard wear golden artificer armour which is a relic of the Chapter, one of a handful of surviving suits from the times of the Great Crusade, whose secrets of manufacture have long since been lost. These few revered relics are a tangible reminder of the very greatest days of not only the Blood Angels, but of the Imperium as a whole.
 * Death Mask - The Death Masks worn by the guardians are highly ornate masks modelled on the fear-inspiring features of Sanguinius himself. Golden energy dances across the Death Mask to form a horrifying halo, terrifying their enemies who have to face the fearsome aspect of the Great Angel.
 * Winged Jump Pack
 * Angelus Bolt Guns - The Angelus pattern boltgun is a variation on the ubiquitous Space Marine weapon, used exclusively by the Blood Angels and their Successors. Its magazine is loaded with very rare and potent bloodshard shells, whose razor-filament payloads make a mockery of most armour.
 * Glaive Encarmine - These mighty master-crafted power weapons crackle with energy, cleaving their foes easily with their terrifying power.