Imperial Legacy: The Knightly Houses of Mars – Part I
Delving into the intricate tapestry of Warhammer 40,000 lore, one cannot overlook the illustrious knightly houses of Mars. These houses, filled with valorous knights and mechanized war machines, have shaped the very history and technological advancements of knightly warfare. Today, we explore two such houses in depth – House Tanis and House Crast.
House Tanis: A Symbol of Ancient Honor
House Tanis’s tale is one of steadfast loyalty and relentless dedication to Mars and the Imperium. Their crest, featuring the iconic Cog of Mars, was further embellished with a sword after the Horus Heresy. This was a tribute to the fallen comrades during the Great Crusade, a brainchild of the legendary Raph Maven.
Their primary fortress on Mars was Aria Mons, nestled on the other side of the mountain from the Magma City. However, House Tanis’s dominion wasn’t limited to this fortress. They also controlled numerous armored keeps on Mars, including Hydrolac Point, currently overseen by Sir Archim Maxes. This strategic location keeps an unblinking watch over the feral battle servitors infesting the southern Mera Erithium.
House Tanis’s legacy as the first knightly house is marked by their influence on the spread of knight technology across the galaxy. Their indomitable spirit continues to inspire awe and respect among both allies and adversaries, standing as timeless guardians of Mars and the Imperium.
House Crast: The Relentless Defenders
The first non-Martian knight house to pledge its allegiance to the Imperium during the Great Crusade was House Crast. Their early commitment to the Emperor’s cause secured them a privileged position, with Mars gifting them a plethora of ancient KN armors in exchange for access to their homeworld, Crastis.
This geographical proximity to Mars offered logistical advantages, allowing House Crast to equip their knights with the latest weapons from the Martian forges swiftly. Their martial capabilities significantly bolstered, they eagerly marched to war at the behest of their new patrons and fought in the Emperor’s campaigns across the galaxy.
However, their proximity to Mars became a liability when Horus’s traitor forces descended upon Crastis. The world lay in ruins, and the once-thriving House Crast saw its numbers decimated. But from the ashes of defeat, the survivors swore a grim oath of vengeance against the traitors, promising to stand against the forces of Chaos wherever they emerged.
House Crast harbors a deep-seated enmity towards the forces of Chaos, particularly the traitor Titans of Legio Mortis. Once allies due to their mutual ties with Mars, their camaraderie was shattered when Legio Mortis betrayed the Imperium, annihilating the other knight houses of Crastis.
The knights of House Crast have since made it their mission to seek out battles against Legio Mortis above all other foes, their unquenchable thirst for vengeance remaining steadfast. Despite the forces of Chaos claiming victory in the Cadan conflict, House Crast’s indomitable spirit led them to launch six Crusades of Vengeance, reinforcing and defending major Forge Worlds and underscoring their unwavering commitment to their allies and role as stalwart defenders of the Imperium.
Through their storied history, House Crast has exemplified both honor and… [To be continued in Part II]
Stay tuned for the next installment in this series, where we will delve deeper into the fascinating lore of the Knightly Houses of Mars.
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