Title: The Trials and Tribulations of the Black Templars: Part One
In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. And in the heart of this perpetual conflict stands the indomitable brotherhood of the Black Templars. Today, we delve into a few key episodes from their storied past, where they’ve clashed with the vilest forces of the galaxy and even faced internal strife within their own ranks.
Our story begins on the distant planet of Irti, a world once celebrated for its unwavering faith. The arrival of Purity Marshall Gervat and his Black Templars was initially met with open arms. The inhabitants, who had devolved into performing barbaric blood rituals and human sacrifices in their misguided quest for genetic perfection, saw the Space Marines as the epitome of their aspirations.
However, the Templars, ever vigilant against the insidious touch of Chaos, found the Irti rituals disturbingly similar to the worship of the ruinous powers. In response, Marshall Gervat made the grave decision to cleanse the planet of its debased populace. So began a tumultuous four-year campaign, culminating in a brutal showdown on the aptly named Plain of Purity.
At the Hill of Heretics, the Black Templars showed the corrupted inhabitants of Irti the true meaning of purity and discipline. They were relentless, merciless, and unbowed. The final enemy forces were crushed, with survivors spared only if they were free from the taint of corruption. This act of mercy, rare for the Templars, would later bring unforeseen repercussions for Marshall Gervat in what would become known as the infamous Gervat Repeal.
Fast forward to the 36th Millennium during the R’ian Crusade, we meet Castellan Dram, a pivotal figure in the defense of the TUS system. Alongside the Knights of House Morton, led by the valiant Sir Dirk Wald, they faced the formidable Warpsmith Rrar and his horrific Soul Harvester.
Dram and his Templars spearheaded the assault on the Soul Harvester, culminating in an act of self-sacrifice that would immortalize their names in the Templar’s Honor Scrolls. The detonation of a cyclonic charge didn’t obliterate the Harvester, but it did buy the Imperium precious time to regroup.
Our story then turns to the tragic tale of Chaplain Ferdinand, who fought bravely in the Lastrati Crusade. The Black Templars, under the leadership of Marshall Armon, sought to save the Imperial world of Aras from the grotesque forces of Nurgle’s Death Guard. Despite their heroic efforts, the Templars found themselves isolated and their leader slain. Ferdinand, along with the Emperor’s Champion Host, took up the mantle and led one final, doomed charge against the Chaos forces.
Next, we delve into the story of Forge Master Jisan, the undying spirit of the Adeptus Mechanicus within the Black Templars. During the Third War for Armageddon, Jisan was tasked with the defense of an Adeptus Mechanicus installation. After tireless work, he discovered and reactivated the mighty Ordinatus Armageddon Oberon, a relic from the First War for Armageddon. The timely resurrection of this formidable weapon was key to the destruction of the monstrous Ork Mega Gargant, God Breaker.
Our final tale for today is of the Emperor’s Champion Navar during the Wars of Apostasy in the 36th Millennium. Upon the return of their Crusade fleets to the Segmentum Solar, the Black Templars discovered their chapter keeps decimated by orbital bombardments. Enraged by this treachery, High Marshall Candis declared an Imperial Crusade against the renegade High Lord of Terra, Goge Vandire.
Stay tuned, dear reader, for the continuation of these tales in our next post, as we delve deeper into the history and heroics of the Black Templars. The Emperor Protects.
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