Blood Angels 1st Company

"We are the warriors of the Emperor, by the blood in our veins and the heritage of our flesh, fail here and we betray not just ourself but the memory of our Primarch."

- First Captain Arenos Karlaen

The Blood Angels 1st Company, known as the "Archangels", are exemplars of the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter. Each battle-brother honoured with a place in the Archangels' ranks is a seasoned veteran who has proven his worth in the cauldron of war against alien warlords and vengeful Daemons. Where the fighting is at its thickest, and the Imperium's need is greatest, the Archangels are the bloody speartip of Lord Commander Dante's armies. These veteran company is led by Arenos Karlaen, known as the "Shield of Baal," the current master of the Archangels. Many consider him the greatest battle leader among the angelic host, save Commander Dante only. Karlaen is a wily Blood Angels Veteran with hundreds of standard years of service to the Chapter. In his long service Karlaen has accrued victories over almost every enemy of mankind. The core of the Archangels is built around Terminator Squads. Predominantly armed with assault weapons, they are often the vanguard of a Blood Angels invasion or counter-attack, sweeping aside resistance with crackling Lightning Claws or arcing Thunder Hammers. First Captain Karlaen himself favours Terminator Armour, so that he can teleport into battle with his battle-brothers as part of the company's first wave.

Relics of the Archangels
Archangel's Edge as a reward for deeds above and beyond the heroism expected of all Blood Angels. During the Cryptus Campaign, when the Blood Angels' led an assault upon the Fabricae District, Ottavos would use the blade to great effect, its overcharged power field allowing him to slay even the largest Tyranid monsters with a single well placed blow.
 * Banner of the Archangel Host - The Blood Angels 1st Company has a long and glorious history, covering thousands of years and countless battlefields across the Imperium, and commemorated on their banners and standards. The Banner of the Archangel Host records the earliest deeds of the Company, when they were chosen as the veterans of the Blood Angels during the Second Founding and bestowed with their honorific, "the Archangels." All within the company that look upon the banner know it is a profound honour to fight in its shadow, while foes that face it can have no doubt that it is the very best of the Chapter they face.
 * Archangel's Edge - As a paragon of the 1st Company, Brother-sergeant Ottavos was given the Power Sword Archangel's Edge by Dante to wield in the battles to come on Asphodex. An honoured Sergeant has always carried
 * The Executioner's Hood - After Mephiston was laid low by the Tyranid bioform known as the Mind-Death, the Librarians of the Conclave of Blood crafted a defence should they face the beasts again. Using the psychically charged fluids from the Maleceptor slain by Commander Dante, the Blood Angels Librarians created a Psychic Hood keyed to the resonance of the creatures that channelled the will of the Hive Mind. Though it proved no more effective than a normal psychic hood at thwarting the psychic powers of the Hive Mind, it did almost completely block out the Shadow in the Warp.