"This day shall be our day of reckoning. Look not to the shame of the past, but to the glory of the future. We shall wash away the stain of our dishonour in the hot blood of our enemies."
- — Sword Brethren Lorenzo's address to the warriors of the Varl Crusade
One of the Sword Brethren of the Black Templars Chapter
The Sword Brethren are the greatest warriors within a Fighting Company of the Black Templars Space Marine Chapter and are organised as a part of the Crusade's commanding Marshal's household, thus serving as the equivalent of a Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter's Veteran 1st Company, though Sword Brethren elites exist within each of the companies of the Chapter. These Battle-Brothers are mighty heroes whose legend has become part of the Chapter's long and illustrious history, and it is every Black Templars' ambition to become one of their number. Clad in the finest suits of Power Armour available to the Chapter and bedecked with Crusader seals, the Sword Brethren are the very image of a baroque warrior knight of ancient Terran 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 receiving 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 raised to the rank of Marshal upon approval by the High Marshal (Chapter Master), and the Sword Brethren of his company swear new oaths of loyalty to the winner. Larger Crusades are broken down into a number of Fighting Companies, each led by a Sword Brethren afforded the honorific of "Castellan." In this instance, Castellans are essentially serving as the equivalent of a company Captain in Codex-compliant Chapters.
Sword Brethren Terminators
Black Templars Sword Brethren in Terminator Armour
The existence of the elite cadre within the Black Templars Chapter known as the Sword Brethren is an ancient tradition that harkens back to the earliest days of the Chapter. The greatest warriors of a Crusade are inducted into its commanding Marshal's household. These hardened Astartes receive additional training, particularly in the use of the rare Terminator Armour, and are no longer responsible for the training of Neophytes as is common in the Chapter. All Space Marine Chapters maintain a number of these revered suits of ancient armour and they are amongst a Chapter's most prized relics. Each is lovingly maintained by the Chapter's Techmarines and every suit has a special place of honour within the Sword Brethren. Selected senior commanders of the Chapter may also enter the Armoury of a Crusade Fleet and don these holy artefacts. To fight in Terminator Armour requires rigorous training and, once he is ready, a Black Templars Terminator is expected to perform above and beyond his brethren, acting as an example to the rest of the Chapter. Squads of Sword Brethren Terminators are most often employed in boarding actions or where the fighting is certain to be close and bloody. Terminators can also be equipped with a varied selection of weaponry that allows them to fight at longer ranges, but it is for brutal close combat assaults that they are primarily designed and for which the Black Templars favour them.
Wargear
- Power Armour
- Terminator Armour (Optional)
- Bolter
- Bolt Pistol or optional ranged weapon
- Crusader Seals - Crusader Seals are waxen or metallic tokens with vows of piety and Chapter blessings inscribed on hanging strips of parchment that are bestowed upon Black Templars Astartes of proven zeal and courage.
- Storm Bolter (Optional for Terminator Armoured Sword Brethren)
- Close Combat Weapon (Choice of Power Sword, Chainsword, Lightning Claws, Thunder Hammer, Power Fist; if chosen weapon is one-handed, a Storm Shield may also be used)
- Frag and Krak Grenades
Sources
- Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), p. 13
- Deathwatch: Core Rulebook (RPG), pp. 38-39
- Index Astartes II, "Righteous Zeal - The Black Templars Space Marine Chapter," pp. 46-47