Deathwing Terminator Squad

Space Marines

Name: Dark Angels
Legion Number: I
Primarch: Lion El'Jonson
Chapter Master: Azrael
Homeworld: Caliban (destroyed)
Fortress-Monastery: The Rock
Known Descendants: Angels of Absolution, Angels of Redemption, Angels of Vengeance, Guardians of the Covenant, Consecrators, Disciples of Caliban
Main colours: Pre-Heresy: Black and white
Main colours: Post-Heresy: Dark green, black and red; Deathwing: Bone colour with green and red trim; Ravenwing: Black and white
Specialty: Deathwing: Terminator veterans and hunting the Fallen. Ravenwing: Fast attack
Battle Cry: Repent! For tomorrow you die!

The Deathwing is the First Company of the Dark Angels Space Marines Chapter. The Deathwing (and the chapter's second company, the Ravenwing) are not part of the standard Codex Astartes structure system, although the remaining companies of the chapter do adhere to the Codex. The Dark Angels' successor Chapters (collectively known as the Unforgiven) also have similar formations, although they are not refered to by the same title.

The Deathwing is unique among the Space Marine chapters in that the entire company fights exclusively in Terminator armour. The company's armour is a bone white colour, rather than the dark green of the majority of the Chapter, or the black of the original Legion . This alteration of the color scheme applies only to the Dark Angels, not to their successor Chapters.(see notes)

The Deathwing's insignia is a variation of winged sword worn by the rest of the Chapter - the blade of the sword is depicted as being broken in Deathwing iconography.

More so even than the regular Dark Angels, the Deathwing are notoriously stubborn and resistant, refusing to buckle under extreme pressure from enemy advances, even when it would be more advantageous to retreat.

The Deathwing is not soley a tactical formation - promotion to the Deathwing also means that an individual is bestowed many of the darkest secrets of the Chapter. The most closely guarded of these secrets is that of the betrayal of Luther and the Fallen, and the subsequent fate of their Primarch, Lion El'Jonson.

The Current Master of the Deathwing is Belial.

The Deathwing's unique white colour scheme was originally described as being a mark of remembrance for a lone squad of Dark Angel Terminators who freed a recruitment world from a Genestealer infestation. As they did not expect to survive such a confrontation, they painted their armour white in preparation for their deaths. In the end the Deathwing triumphed and a vital part of the Dark Angels' heritage was saved. Later accounts portray this story (which is known as "The Tale of Two Heads Talking") as being a tale told to members of the Chapter who have not yet advanced far enough in the Chapter's hierarchy to know the darkest secrets of the Chapter, and the true reason for the change of colour scheme is in fact symbolic of the Deathwing's role as hunters of The Fallen and as members of the Chapter's Inner Circle.

Painted by Sandro Ellenberger
Miniatures © Games Workshop Ltd.
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