Why were they founded?
The Black Cobras were created in order to directly counter the vast numbers of Orks discovered upon the Imperium’s entry into the Gorgonia Traverse. Their method of warfare is designed specifically in order to sew chaos amidst undisciplined ranks and cut off the head of the snake; tactics which are perfectly suited not only to fighting the hordes of the Green Tide, but have also proved effective at stemming the rise of the many cults that have arisen in the Traverse.

When were they founded?
In the latter half of the 38th Millenium, shortly after the Imperium’s discovery of and expedition into the Gorgonia Traverse.

Who were the chapter’s progenitors?
The Blood Angels, and their gene-seed is relatively pure and stable. However, the Black Cobras do not maintain particularly close ties to their progenitor chapter, and as such have exhibited some slight divergence from the traditions of the Blood Angels.

What is the nature of this divergence?
Rather than the all-out assault tactics favoured by the Blood Angels, the Black Cobras have a core of Marines dedicated to long-range combat, and this core forms the lynchpin of much of their battle strategy. In addition, the reasons for their founding have left them with a particularly strong loathing of Xenos of all kinds, especially Orks. They have also been known to exhibit an extreme aloofness towards regular humans, though this has rarely been seen to cross into active disdain.

Does the chapter possess any gene-seed deficiencies or flaws?
As with all Blood Angels successors, the Black Cobras fall victim to the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. Unlike many of their kin, however, they have embraced this and structured much of their warfare around the type of carnage and wanton chaos that only the Death Company can deliver.

Who were the chapter’s greatest heroes?
The Black Cobras possesses two figures which have gone down in history as undisputed heroes of both the chapter and the Gorgonian Traverse. The first is Chapter Master Arvus Dionos. The first Chapter Master of the Black Cobras, Dionos is renowned for defeating the greatest Ork Warboss in the Traverse’s history, Zogrut Spinerippa, a battle which cost him his life and saw him elevated to Sainthood. The second is Ancient Varonos, the oldest surviving battle brother, presently entombed in the iron shell of a Dreadnought. Varonos was instrumental in devising and perfecting the style of warfare which would become so characteristic of the Black Cobras.

Where is the chapter’s home world?
The Fortress-Monastery of the Black Cobras is located deep in the mountains of the hive world Irridan, in Sub-Sector Dominus of the Gorgonia Traverse. However, few of their recruits come from this world, save the rare and truly exceptional individual. The majority of the chapter’s recruits come from the cursed death world Lypsis, the acidic shores of Toxus, or the Ork-infested jungles of Iesta. Their involvement in the administration of either their homeworld or their recruiting worlds is extremely distant, and they are rarely seen by the common folk.

How closely does the chapter follow the Codex Astartes?
For the most part, the chapter is adherent to the Codex. There are some small deviations, however. Their 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies are each dedicated to a specific aspect of warfare. The 2nd is devoted to extreme firepower, and consists mostly of Devastator marines, Dreadnoughts and armoured heavy support. The 3rd is dedicated to precision attacks, usually from extreme range; this company contains scouts which have shown great promise with a sniper rifle, and a unique faction of Marines known as the Cobra’s Fangs. Finally, the 4th is equipped for high-speed hit and run attacks. Unusually for a Blood Angels successor, the chapter contains a relatively small number of dedicated Assault Marines, preferring to rely on their Death Company for dedicated close assault purposes.

What is the chapter’s typical combat doctrine?
The Black Cobras typically engage in a three-pronged approach to warfare. Before launching an attack, their scouts will study the enemy often for weeks on end, looking for weaknesses which the chapter could later exploit. In battle, their opening assault focuses on the concentration of extreme force from an unexpected quarter. This will typically be instigated by the chapter’s Death Company, assisted by long-range firepower from Devastators and tanks, and further supported by deep-striking Dreadnoughts, Marines and Terminators. Once battle has been engaged, the faster units, such as the chapter’s 4th company, will harass the enemy with a series of lightning strikes. Capitalising on the confusion and pressure this puts upon their enemy, the chapter’s 3rd company, accompanied by a select few dedicated assault units, moves in under cover to pick off the enemy’s leaders and weakened support units. This combination of brute force and merciless efficiency has proven remarkably effective against foes with poor discipline and centralised leadership, such as the Orks and many Chaos cults and warbands. More mobile and tactical opponents, such as the Eldar, are more troublesome, and less susceptible to the distraction caused by the chapter’s big guns.

How do individual battle brothers behave in combat?
The techniques of the individual Astartes within the chapter generally reflect an aspect of their overall combat doctrine. Some are more given to an overwhelming assault, either at range or in close quarters, refusing to give their opponent a chance to retaliate and tearing them apart with an unrelenting volley of blows. Others are far more defensive and analytical in nature, either evading or parrying the enemy’s attacks until a weakness can be discerned and a decisive blow struck. The individual’s style greatly depends on their role in the greater battle plan.

Does the chapter have access to any special equipment?
The Dreadnoughts of the chapter typically have thicker armour than most, adding to their role as shock troops and linebreakers. The most notably unique equipment is possessed by the members of the chapter’s 3rd company called the Cobra’s Fangs. These Marines, who in practice more greatly resemble assassins than warriors, are equipped as standard with high-calibre sniper rifles, each one heavily customised by the Marine that carries it, and needle pistols armed with lethal and exotic toxins.

Does the chapter have any notable beliefs?
The chapter’s original Chapter Master, Arvus Dionos, is held in the highest reverence, at least as greatly as the Primarch Sanguinius himself is regarded. That aside, the Cobra’s Fangs represent the greatest divergence from the standard Astartes creed. These Astartes fashion their method of warfare after the creature from which the chapter takes its name; their swift, lethal strikes, typically with poisoned weaponry, are similar to those of a cobra catching its prey. The Fangs are also known to be very insular, even amongst the rest of their aloof brethren, and have a section of the Fortress-Monastery to themselves. Finally, the chapter as a whole sees cobras and snakes in general as possessing some mythic and totemic significance. Some battle brothers even go so far as to undergo cosmetic body modification in order to take on certain snake-like characteristics, such as slitted pupils or forked tongues.

What is the chapter’s current status?
The Black Cobras currently possess just under ten full companies of Astartes.

Does the chapter have any notable allies?
The chapter is notorious for its aloofness towards the rest of the Imperium, though this very rarely crosses the line into outright contempt. It is more that the Black Cobras are particularly single-minded regarding their purpose, and see little worth in forging lasting relations or involving themselves in galactic politics. That said, they have been stalwart in their defence of the Traverse, and are unanimously respected to some degree throughout the region. In addition, their expertise in anti-Xenos warfare sees them frequently drafted into the orders of the Deathwatch.


Does the chapter have any notable enemies?
The chapter was created to fight Orks, a task they have shown themselves to excel in, and this has developed into a strong hatred for Xenos of all kinds. At present, the chapter is primarily concerned with the joint forces of Warboss Skullstompa and Mek Thrakzappa. On a more personal note, the chapter has suffered a series of crushing and humiliating defeats at the hands of the Dark Eldar of the Kabal of the Fatal Caress, and a desire for vengeance flows through every Marine in the chapter.

What is the chapter’s battle-cry?
In the name of Dionos, cleanse this filth!

What is the chapter’s heraldry?
A simple phi symbol, stylised to resemble the hooded visage of a cobra.

What are the chapter’s colours?
Mostly black, with turquoise helmets, pauldrons and backpacks, and silver details. Chapter veterans have their colours reversed. The Cobra’s Fangs bear significantly different colours; dark green armour with a brown trim.

Why was the chapter founded?
The Milesian Wardens were founded through a special request by the Adeptus Mechanicus in the Gorgonia Traverse. At the time of their founding, the Milesian Verge had been largely unexplored, and the tech-priests of the Mechanicus requested the creation of a chapter to act simultaneously as exploratory vanguard, bodyguard and peacekeeping force within the new region. The request was approved, though not without some reluctance.

When was the chapter founded?
The founding took place relatively recently. The Milesian Wardens were born in the middle years of the 40th Millennium, as exploration of the Milesian Verge began in earnest.

Who were the chapter’s progenitors?
The creation of the Wardens was oddly secretive, and there are whispers among some corners of the Inquisition that they were born of traitor gene-seed. However, official records state that the Imperial Fists gene-seed was used.

Does the chapter have any notable divergences?
The Wardens have extremely close ties with the Mechanicus factions within the Traverse. As a result, they have a higher-than-usual amount of antique armour and specialist equipment, as well as a greater number of Techmarines and above-average knowledge of technical maintenance. They also have a tendency towards scorched earth tactics in battle; the failure to utterly wipe every trace of the enemy off of the battlefield is seen as dishonourable.

Does the chapter’s gene-seed have any deficiencies or flaws?
The famously masochistic tendencies of the Imperial Fists have expressed themselves in unusual ways in the ranks of the Milesian Wardens, essentially amounting to a minor cult of sadism and masochism. Firstly, they will not settle for anything less than utter perfection in battle; failure to live up to this high standard is grounds for severe punishment among these Astartes. Secondly, they take excessive pride in their own physical appearance, often going to great and painful lengths to achieve their ideal look. The excessive nature of the ritual punishments in particular has caused the Inquisition to keep a close eye on the chapter for signs of unwanted, possibly heretical developments. These habits are mostly kept hidden, and outside of the chapter only a few high-ranking members of the Mechanicus and the Inquisition are aware of them are their implications.

Does the chapter have any heroes of note?
As the Wardens are a relatively new chapter, they have not had much chance for their battle brothers to be inscribed in legend. That aside, their current Master of Sanctity, Arkadi Akilenya, is renowned throughout the Traverse as a warrior of exemplary bravery and skill, and famed for his fatherly attitude toward both his fellow Astartes and the common inhabitants of the region. The chapter has also produced a number of Techmarines of almost unnatural skill.

Where is the chapter’s home world?
The chapter’s Fortress-Monastery is located near the primary manufacturing centre of the forge world Tzipika, in the Milesian Verge. However, they primarily recruit from the two main hive worlds in the region, Titanis and Klamdyr Secundus. They take an active role in the government of these worlds, and are a common and welcome sight in the day-to-day life of its citizens.

How closely does the chapter follow the Codex Astartes?
The Wardens are an exemplary Codex-adherent chapter.

What is the chapter’s typical combat doctrine?
The Wardens’ preferable style of combat is to first establish a secure foothold on the battlefield, usually through the usage of orbital bombardments and Assault Marines deployed by drop pod. Once this has been achieved, they begin slowly and systematically advancing towards the heart of the foe, aiming to eradicate their enemy as completely and thoroughly as possible. Their favour massed infantry formations and rapid redeployment tactics over armoured support, and have a distinct preference for flamers, meltas and explosive weapons; the kind of weaponry which leaves nothing of the enemy save a few charred hunks of meat. However, they rarely deploy more of the chapter’s forces at a time than is strictly necessary, in order to maintain a strong reserve force should something go awry.

How do individual Astartes behave in combat?
The Wardens are perfectionists to a man. They favour the satisfaction of a single shot or blow, aimed at precisely the point that will cause the most damage, over a relentless, brutal assault. Anything less than total efficiency is unacceptable.

Does the chapter have access to any special equipment?
The Wardens’ close relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus means that they possess many pieces of powerful and rare equipment, such as ancient models of power armour and experimental and powerful weaponry. As stated, they also favour flame, melta and explosive weaponry.

Does the chapter have any notable beliefs?
Outside of their little-known masochistic and perfectionist tendencies, the Wardens have few divergent beliefs. Their close ties to the Mechanicus have left them with a stronger-than-average reverence for the Omnissiah, and of the machine spirits of weaponry in particular. They are also more likely than many chapters to take an active role in the communities of their home world and recruiting worlds, seeing themselves as stewards and guardians of the area.

What is the chapter’s current status?
The Wardens are currently at around 70-75% of optimal chapter strength. One reason for this is their relative youth as a chapter. However, there is another, more sinister reason for their slightly low numbers. In the early years of the 41st Millennium, the chapter briefly stopped its campaigns and withdrew all its forces to its Fortress-Monastery on Tzipika, emerging only after several months. The reasons for this are unknown outside the chapter, though the Inquisition is very interested in finding out.

Does the chapter have any notable allies?
The chapter’s connections to the Adeptus Mechanicus, particularly the tech-priests of Tzipika and the Gaharran Enclave, is unquestionably strong. They also have extremely good relations with the citizens, Administratum and military forces of the Milesian Verge and indeed, the entirety of the Traverse. Their most frequent allies are the 3rd Klamdyr ‘Firebirds’, who often fight alongside them and are respected as equals in battle. Their relationship with the other prominent Astartes chapter in the Traverse, the Black Cobras, is one of mutual, though distant respect; the chapters have rarely worked together and communicate only when necessary.

Does the chapter have any notable enemies?
In recent years, the Wardens have dedicated themselves to the destruction of the Ekstasis Cult, a Slaaneshi warband currently ravaging the Traverse. They have also become heavily involved in the attempt to stem the encroaching Tyranid Hive Fleet Draugr. Additionally, though they could hardly be regarded as enemies, their relationship with the Gorgonian Inquisitorial Conclave is extremely strained.

What is the chapter’s battle-cry?
For the Emperor and the Omnissiah!


What is the chapter’s heraldry?
A dark blue shield with the outline of the Mechanicus symbol displayed upon it.

What are the chapter’s colours?
For such an aesthetically-obsessed chapter, their livery is surprisingly austere. Their armour is a simple dark grey, trimmed in the traditional Mechanicus red and emblazoned with gold details.