Traitor Legion Loyalists
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. -Exodus 23:2
As the name indicates, this article is about those rare Space Marines who stayed loyal to the Emperor and the Imperium despite hailing from the Traitor Legions, proving that despite what some characters in 40k think, bad genes is no sure indicator of bad behaviour. While most of the information is just hints for now, this is a matter that has been popping up every now and then since a few years ago.
As it happens, many of these traitor legion loyalists in the Horus Heresy who did not end up in annals of history became Blackshields, the precursor to the 40k equivalent of the same name where a marine with no emblems or markings can petition to join with the Deathwatch, no questions asked. The wording leaves it open to them seeking to redeem themselves OR that of their chapter. Although Blackshields are a rarity, there were enough for such a tradition to begin and survive to the present time in the Imperium.
Those groups with enough numbers, or perhaps ties to the right people, were able to pass themselves off as successors of other chapters after the Second Founding. Or their founders purged and changed their own records, so that over time, no one within the chapter knows who their true progenitor is (which can lead to some fun times when an inquisitor comes across evidence that it occurred).
Generic armies of them can be fielded in 30K with the Orphans of Betrayal Rite of War. As is fitting for a rogue, largely unsupported force, the rite doesn't provide many bonuses unless you're fighting Traitor versions of the same Legion you're fielding.
 This article contains spoilers! You have been warned. |
Known Loyalist Members of the Traitor Legions
- Death Guard
- Nathaniel Garro (became the first of the Knights-Errant)
- Andus Hakur
- Meric Voyen
- Solun Decius
- Helig Gallor (Recruited into the Knights-Errant)
- Emperor's Children
- Saul Tarvitz (MIA)
- Argentus Kiron
- Ancient Rylanor (Contemptor Dreadnought, MIA)
- Iron Warriors
- Barabas Dantioch (Sacrificed himself in a glorious battle to save the forces of Imperium Secundus)
- Zygmund Tarrasch
- Venerable Vastopol
- Kyr Vhalen
- Narik Dreygur (Mind-controlled to serve the Loyalists rather than redeemed)
- Auric Saxton
- Luna Wolves
- Garviel Loken (Recruited into the Knights-Errant)
- Iacton Qruze (Recruited into the Knights-Errant, later killed by Horus)
- Severian (Recruited into the Knights-Errant)
- World Eaters
- Macer Varren (Recruited into the Knights-Errant)
- Endryd Haar
- Tagore
- Subha
- Asubha
- Thousand Sons
- Atharva
- Revuel Arvida
- Omari Anat
List of suspected chapters
- Blood Ravens (Thousand Sons) - heavily implied
- Grey Knights (Founders were initially drawn from the Knights-Errant) - outright stated
- Minotaurs (World Eaters)
- Silver Skulls (Iron Warriors) - all but confirmed
- Red Scorpions (Emperor's Children)
- Death Eagles (Emperor's Children) - all but confirmed
- Storm Wardens (World Eaters) - speculated