Emperor's Champion

The Champion of an Emperor is a position of honor in the ranks of the Space Marines, particularly in the first and second founding chapters, whose history dates back to the dark days of the Horus Heresy. Almost all Space Marine Chapters have had their own Emperor's Champion at some point, particularly in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy known as the Great Extermination. The practice is much less common in the 41st millennium.

The position of Champion of the Emperor, however, has played an important role in the ranks of the zealous Black Templar Order since the Order's founding as the successor to the Imperial Fists, and has been upheld with reverence and reverence throughout nearly ten millennia of endless Crusades and endless conflicts. In battle, it is the duty of an Emperor's designated champion to seek out and challenge the commander of the enemy force and fight him or her in single combat to the glory of the Emperor. Many great battles and wars have been turned in the Empire's favor by the slaying of enemy leaders or other key Figures in an enemy's chain of command by an Emperor's champion.

Always at the forefront of the Black Templar battle line, a unique figure advances, its gleaming blade carving a path of doom through the foe. This warrior will challenge any foe, no matter how powerful, for he is the Emperor's champion and divinity rests on his shoulders as cloak and shroud. On the eve of battle, when the Black Templars kneel before their chaplains and pray for the Emperor's favor, one of them may be granted a vision. In his mind's eye, flaming-bladed angelic hosts soar above the stars, driving back the writhing shadows with their righteous fury. Glorious battles of the past and future swirl through the battle brother's mind, accompanied by the knowledge that he has been chosen by the Emperor to be his mortal ship on the battlefield.

As this fugue state passes, the Space Marine knows he must comply and stand aside forever, without his brethren in the searing light of the Emperor's gaze. The chaplains then lead the chosen battle brother to an isolated contemplation chamber. Here he is clad in holy robes, donning the armor of faith, and surrendering his weapons in favor of one of the order's ten sacred Black Swords. Only a handful of Emperor's Champions appear each century, their appearance is a marvel to be remembered, and there can only be one in the Order at any given time. It is the duty of the chaplains, therefore, to ensure that every crusade is accompanied from the outset by a single Black Sword, ready should an Emperor's Champion emerge. Should this happen, the name of the blade's new wielder will be engraved into the obsidi attack, immortalizing a new hero as part of the blade's own legend.

When battle begins, divine power flows through every fiber of the Emperor's Champion. His vision shimmers with a golden light that burns brightest around the mightiest foes. In this way, the Emperor's Champion is guided through the crowd, knocking smaller enemies aside as he closes in on his target. Allowing his brethren to lead the wider fight, the Emperor's Champion engages in one-on-one combat with the deadliest foes. The Emperor's Champion will never admit defeat, for his duty does not end until the Black Sword is drawn from his cold, dead hands.

At the end of the Horus Heresy during the Siege of Terra, First Captain Sigismund of the Imperial Fists Legion was chosen as the Emperor's first champion. Personally chosen by Rogal Dorn, Sigismund was given the high honor of serving as the Emperor's personal champion.

Although he was humbled by honor, only one thing bothered him - it seemed wrong to cover up the sacred colors of his legion. The Imperial Fists' reclusiarch, who bestowed the holy blessing on his armor and gear, told Brother Sigismund not to fear, for Dorn himself had commanded it. Sigismund's heraldry had been turned black to show that he served the Emperor directly, as did the Reclusiarch and his peers. As such he had been marked in front of the Emperor.