The Dolorous Guard is a warband of Chaos Space Marines that are the survivors of the corrupted Ashen Blades Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, who were of unknown genetic origin and Founding. They were commanded by the Chaos Lord and Chaos Champion of Slaanesh Markog and served as the honour guard of the Sorcerer Lord Seraphax, the Fallen Angel who was the leader of the Ten Thousand Eyes warhost.
Warband History
The Ashen Blades were originally a Loyalist Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. When the entire Chapter was trapped in the Immaterium by the sudden onset of a Warp storm, the Chapter's Space Marines were consumed by infighting as Chaos slowly claimed them. During the conflict among the Ashen Blades that erupted as some of their number fell to Chaos, the Chapter's Master of Sanctity was killed by his subordinate Chaplain Jai'tana for opposing the service of the Ruinous Powers.
When the survivors finally reemerged into realspace aboard their battle barge Blade of Truth after an unknown subjective amount of time trapped in the Warp, they had become Heretic Astartes commanded by the Chaos Lord Markog, originally an officer of the Ashen Blades known for his intense pride. During the Chapter's time trapped in the Warp, Markog became a Chaos Lord and a Chaos Champion of Slaanesh who had been drawn to the Dark Prince by his pride and ego. It was Markog who renamed the survivors the "Dolorous Guard" and eventually brought them to join the warhost of the Ten Thousand Eyes commanded by the Sorcerer Lord Seraphax.
Seraphax welcomed the Dolorous Guard, making the Blade of Truth the flagship of his Chaos fleet and naming Markog's warband his honour guard. Markog greatly respected the power of the Sorcerer Lord and gladly followed his every command.
During the battle between the Ten Thousand Eyes and the returned Primarch Lion El'Jonson and his redeemed Fallen Angels known as The Risen on the world of Sable in the Imperium Nihilus in the Era Indomitus, Markog was slain by a group of The Risen that included the former Fallen Zabriel, Guain, Borz, Galad, and Launciel.
Notable Dolorous Guard
- Chaos Lord Markog - Markog was the Chaos Lord of the Dolorous Guard warband and was originally an officer of the Ashen Blades known for his intense pride. When the Ashen Blades' Chapter fleet was trapped in the Immaterium by the sudden onset of a Warp storm, the Chapter's Space Marines were consumed by infighting as Chaos slowly claimed them. When the survivors finally reemerged into realspace aboard their battle barge Blade of Truth after an unknown subjective amount of time trapped in the Warp, they had become Heretic Astartes commanded by Markog, who was now their Chaos Lord and a Chaos Champion of Slaanesh who had been drawn to the Dark Prince by his pride and ego. It was Markog who renamed the survivors the Dolorous Guard and eventually brought them to join the warhost of the Ten Thousand Eyes commanded by the Sorcerer Lord Seraphax. Seraphax welcomed the Dolorous Guard, making the Blade of Truth the flagship of his Chaos fleet and naming Markog's warband his honour guard. Markog greatly respected the power of the Sorcerer Lord and gladly followed his every command. The Chaos Lord was suited to his new role, for as a Slaaneshi Champion he had been gifted the Daemon Axe Heartdrinker by his divine patron. As long as he held the weapon, Markog was able to heal any wound dealt to him and also teleport the Dolorous Guard through the Warp to wherever they needed to be. However, Markog's corruption by the Prince of Chaos had left him with intense cravings to feel the pleasure engendered by consuming Human flesh, especially those of his fellow Astartes. During the battle between the Ten Thousand Eyes and the returned Lion El'Jonson and his redeemed Fallen Angels known as The Risen on the world of Sable, Markog was slain by a group of The Risen that included the former Fallen Zabriel, Guain, Borz, Galad, and Launciel.
- Dark Apostle Jai'tana - Jai'tana was once a Chaplain of the Ashen Blades Chapter and was attached to the command of the officer Markog on the battle barge Blade of Truth when the Chapter's fleet was trapped in the Immaterium by a Warp storm. During the infighting among the Ashen Blades that erupted as they slowly fell to Chaos, the Chapter's Master of Sanctity was killed by Jai'tana for opposing the service of the Ruinous Powers. After the surviving Ashen Blades returned to realspace under the command of Markog, who had become a Chaos Champion of Slaanesh during their time in the Warp, he formed the Ashen Blades' survivors into the warband of Heretic Astartes he renamed the Dolorous Guard. Jai'tan now served as their Dark Apostle, for he had wholly accepted the worship of the Chaos Gods during his time in the Warp. After the Dolorous Guard joined Seraphax's Ten Thousand Eyes warhost as the Sorcerer Lord's honour guard, Jai'tana rose to become a powerful leader among the warhost. He has largely cast off the authority of Markog and heeds only the commands of Seraphax and what he believes to be the will of the Dark Gods.
Warband Fleet
- Blade of Truth (Battle Barge) - The Blade of Truth was the flagship of the Ten Thousand Eyes warhost. The battle barge was once part of the Chapter fleet of the Ashen Blades, until that entire Chapter was corrupted by Chaos after its fleet was caught in a Warp storm. Once the Ashen Blades escaped back into realspace, the former Ashen Blades officer Markog, now a Chaos Lord, remained in command of the Blade of Truth and its surviving Astartes. It was Markog who led the remaining Ashen Blades into becoming the Heretic Astartes warband known as the Dolorous Guard. Under Markog's command, the Dolorous Guard eventually joined the Ten Thousand Eyes warhost as the honour guard of its Sorcerer Lord Seraphax, who made the Blade of Truth the flagship of his own Chaos fleet.
Warband Appearance
Warband Colours
The Dolorous Guard's colours are not listed in current Imperial records.
Warband Badge
The Dolorous Guard's badge is not listed in current Imperial records.
Sources
- The Lion: Son of the Forest (Novel) by Mike Brooks, Chs. 5-7, 11, 13, 15, 24, 29-33