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I've been curious about that wonderful, recent model release from Forgeworld. Specifically, about the items on his belt: https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-US/Dark-Angels-Legion-Terminator-Praetor-2019



Could anyone explain the keys and incense burner hanging from his belt? I could have sworn that back in the Horus Heresy, no Astartes was so religious as to have an incense burner. Weren't the loyal trying to push back religion, along with the Emperor, during that time?

And the significance of keys for the Dark Angels, as far as I understood, were supposed to have come into being because of interrogators etc. trying to *find* Fallen. Correct?

As such - does anyone understand why these are two of the features so pronounced on the model? Or do I just need a brush-up on the lore?

Dark Angels originated on Caliban where unsightly orders defended the people against chaos beasts and Hunter them. They had ranks titles and rituals that could easily account for those items especially the incense burner. The keys maybe he just doesn't trust his brethren with his locker.

So the incense burner is based on Caliban rituals? Okay... The keys though do seem definitely off I guess then, huh?

Also does anyone know where I can find rules for it? Since I've already bought it lol

I'd run that as a dark angels cataphracti terminator armor captain...

they have those now yeah?

Crusade/Heresy era Dark Angels were basically the Freemasons, but also probably the most aggressively secular/atheist Legion (their flagship was called the Invincible Reason). Lots of ritual and symbolism, but none of it religious. They took the traditional trappings of religion, and the associated psychological symbolism of details like incense, but stripped it of all religious significance. Basically turning religion into pure psychology, shaped by reason, not faith. They also deliberately subverted some symbols to obfuscate their true meaning, or rather so that they would have a different meaning depending on whether the observer was an initiate of that particular truth or not. Does a key unlock secrets, or keep them locked away? Is a halo a symbol of the divine, or of the secular light of pure reason?

Yeah I'm currently reading descent of the angels and I just read exactly this: "traditions and ritual are non religious but like a glue that stick society together"
It's still important to them, because they love their history, the symbolism, but they are quite rational and anti superstitious since the very beginning of the book.

Duskweaver wrote:Crusade/Heresy era Dark Angels were basically the Freemasons, but also probably the most aggressively secular/atheist Legion (their flagship was called the Invincible Reason). Lots of ritual and symbolism, but none of it religious. They took the traditional trappings of religion, and the associated psychological symbolism of details like incense, but stripped it of all religious significance. Basically turning religion into pure psychology, shaped by reason, not faith. They also deliberately subverted some symbols to obfuscate their true meaning, or rather so that they would have a different meaning depending on whether the observer was an initiate of that particular truth or not. Does a key unlock secrets, or keep them locked away? Is a halo a symbol of the divine, or of the secular light of pure reason?

godardc wrote:Yeah I'm currently reading descent of the angels and I just read exactly this: "traditions and ritual are non religious but like a glue that stick society together"
It's still important to them, because they love their history, the symbolism, but they are quite rational and anti superstitious since the very beginning of the book.

That probably nails it, I'd say! Definitely a bit of a thinker, but that just makes it great. Thanks!