[Essim]

Okay I just have a few questions.

Do the Grey Knights follow the Codex closely? I understand complete following would be impossible as they are all psykers, but for instance how many members of the Grey Knights are there? There must be more than a thousand, as they are charged with the guardianship of the entire galaxy.

Also, are their any other chapters that specialise in anti-daemon actions other than the Grey Knights?

Most people know that the Grey Knights are chapter 666, now I understand the inherent meaning of this number, but how can the Grey Knights be almost the seven-hundredth chapter founded when they are one of the oldest chapters?

Thanks.

 

[Pyromanic Tendencies]

I believe their designated chapter 666. It doesn't automaticly follow that thier the 666th Chapter founded. O' course, I might be wrong, and they are the 666th Chapter, GW just screwed up.

I think I read somewhere that there are about 3,000 Grey Knights, but I'm not sure, and that still ain't that big a number.

 

[Dirge Eterna]

They do not follow the Codex Astartes. They are learned of it, yes, but only use it's tactics and sometimes ideas. The Grey Knights' organization is completely different.

-Dirge

 

[Slade]

Okay I just have a few questions.

Do the Grey Knights follow the Codex closely? I understand complete following would be impossible as they are all psykers, but for instance how many members of the Grey Knights are there? There must be more than a thousand, as they are charged with the guardianship of the entire galaxy.

As has been said, GK's know the Codex well, but are not restricted by it. Not sure of their numbers. Remember, there does not need to be that many. As an arm of the Ordos Malleus, they are used in specific types of mission rather that full-scale warfare.

Also, are their any other chapters that specialise in anti-daemon actions other than the Grey Knights?

Not that I'm aware of. I think it is just them

Most people know that the Grey Knights are chapter 666, now I understand the inherent meaning of this number, but how can the Grey Knights be almost the seven-hundredth chapter founded when they are one of the oldest chapters?

This is one of those fluff things. It's just the way it is and will have no real explanation, apart from the obvious - "it's a spooky number"

Thanks.

 

[The Son of Horus]

Some Chapters have certain affinities for fighting certain opponents. Some are well-honed against the Eldar, some against the Orks, and some against Chaos. The Exorcists, for example, are a very devout anti-Chaos Chapter which are closely monitored by the Inquisition. They were an experiment to see if possession and subsequent exorcism would reduce the vulnerability of the possessed to future possession.

In regard to the Chapter number, that IS an oversight on GW's part-- the Chapter number does reference its order in founding. The Dark Angels are Chapter 001, for example.

The Grey Knights are significantly UNDER the strength of a typical Codex Chapter. The difficulty in recruiting Grey Knights, and the subsequently high mortality rate (even for Space Marines) in both training and combat operations keeps the Grey Knights at drastically low numbers. A Captain may command only a couple of squads, for instance, as opposed to a Codex counterpart which would command one hundred brethren.

 

[Essim]

I see... so I take it that the Grey Knights do not have the Scout Company First Company etc. doctrine with the same meanings?

Also what is the story with these "Exorcists" you mention, are they kind of like warrior-priests? Grey Knight derivatives? Maniacal fanatics? (I've only read one very short piece of fluff on them, didn't tell much)

So how many Grey Knights are there? 600? Less?

 

[Jacobite]

Nope the Grey Knights don't have any of that stuff. They basically go straight into a battle squad and then go from there. I don't think they even have companys - they just get sent out in teams whether they be Power Amoured or Terminator. Not 100% on that though.

The Exorcists are a interesting little chapter. Heres what has been written on them. Very little but very interesting.:

Honoured Lord, it is with great pleasure I contact you to inform you of the success of our project. Minor setbacks aside, I can report that the first two companies of the Chapter created in this thirteenth founding are responding well to the daemonic possession therapy. Under controlled hexagramic conditions, the subjects were exposed to possession by minor creatures from the daemonic pantheon under the watchful eye of Ordo Malleus daemon hunters protected by sigils and wards of great power. Incense inimical to the summoned creatures was burned while chants of binding were continually intoned from the ++Liber Expurgatorius. Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++.

Once the subject was exposed to the essence of the daemon, the creature was allowed to remain in the host body for twelve hours before being cast out by a daemon hunter. In some cases the resultant physical and psychological damage to the Space Marines was irreparable and we were forced to terminate, but the majority of the subjects survived the procedure and required only minor reconstructive surgery and corrective psychotherapy.


After a period of recuperation, the subjects were instructed in the methods of combating the daemonic, trained in the use of the 666 verses of the Book of Exorcisms and equipped with the weapons of an Exorcist. The two companies were then put into action on a daemon infested world on the northern fringes of the Eye of Terror. With a squad of the Grey Knights held in reserve, the Exorcist Space Marines achieved a kill ratio of 97:1. Impressive under normal circumstances, but against the daemonic, I'm sure you'll agree that these figures clearly indicate that the procedure is both safe and effective.

The test subjects adrenal production more than tripled and levels of the neurotransmitter Serotonin dropped drastically, resulting in heightened states of aggression and combat effectiveness. Only 1% of the Space Marine subjects re-succumbed to daemonic influence on the planet and I believe that, subject to careful monitoring, this Chapter might eventually be granted a base and limited autonomy within a reasonable time frame.

Sets up a interesting little precident. Check out a story that I wrote up using it - Essim you'd probably find it interesting. :http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1371

 

[Essim]

Hmmm, Exorcists, I'll check them out and check the link you posted.

 

[Bishop120]

GW put out a little fluff on them a while back listing the traits to use for them to use from the SM codex.. I know one was Purity above all but I cant remeber the others..

As for the Grey Knights they are not bound by the rules of Codex:Astartes.. it is rumored that they number 3000+ but are are always spread out around the galaxy looking for signs of the Demonic and assisting the Inquisition when they choose to do so. There is no head of the Grey Knights and their ranks are based more around how proficient they are in the use of their psychic powers/strengths than a true Force rank structure. Ergo per the fluff books a Justicar has been placed in charge of a Grey Knights force which had a Brother Captain and his terminator squad answereing to the Justicar. This is why Codex DH actually refers to Grand Masters as being "Hero's" rather than commanders and such. It is the hope of every Grey Knight to eventually master his powers to the point attaining the rank of Grand Master.

In the first battle for Armaggedon 100 Grey Knight Terminators were dispatched to battle Daemon Primarch Angron of the World Eaters. After a long drawn out battle Angron and his bodyguard of 12 Khorne Bloodthirsters were sent back to the warp. There were 3 Grey Knight survivors.

 

[cerrakoth]

Grey Knight

Well I don't know if anyones responded to this but the grey knights where designated the chapter 666 because It sounded cool to the guy who game up with them at GW they cannot be chapter 666 in a linear fashion because they were formed almost immediately after the heresy so in the second founding or third at the latest so maybe chapter 400 at the very most, also commander Garro from 'The Flight Of The Eisenstein' the horus heresy book is a Death Guard commander who was loyal to the emperor and brought word to the emperor of the Heresy as he had killed many of his on men he was granted leadership of the grey knights and became there first( and possibly only) chapter master. Also showing that they were formed almost instantly after the heresy as no space marine lives long