Astral Templars

The Astral Templars are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter and a Third Founding Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion. The Astral Templars until recently was a Chapter on the edge of extinction, its fortress-monastery destroyed and its numbers all but annihilated when the Necrons of the Maynarkh Dynasty descended on the  Orpheus Sector of Segmentum Tempestus and its Chapter homeworld of Hydroghast in 991.M41. Yet the Astral Templars fought on, bearing the blows of a cruel fate with stoicism that has become legend across the Imperium.

Even amongst the elite ranks of the Space Marines, the remaining Astral Templars are held as warriors without peer, forged in the fire of the most terrible and hopeless battles. As one would expect of successors to the Imperial Fists, the Astral Templars are steadfast and stubborn warriors, reluctant to yield so long as victory is possible. Nonetheless, the Chapter's brush with annihilation has tempered this ardour with grim reality.

The Astral Templars’ future lies with a handful of Space Marines, their lives to be expended for greater rewards than the salving of personal pride. Now the Battle-Brothers of the Astral Templars fight for more than the Emperor of Mankind, more than honour and renown. They fight so that their Chapter may survive, and one day regain its former glories.

Though they originated as a Fleet-based Chapter, the Astral Templars have become well-established as defenders of the Orpheus Sector. There are countless Necron Tombworlds active in the region, which represent an ever-present threat to the Imperium's interests.

Over time, the Astral Templars have become particularly adept at combating these technologically advanced xenos, though they have also engaged in countless battles against a broad spectrum of opponents across the span of the galaxy. As successors of the Imperial Fists, they proudly maintain the legacy of Rogal Dorn while also holding true to the teachings of the Codex Astartes.

In recent years, the Chapter has suffered severe losses following the Maynarkh Dynasty Invasion and the subsequent massive daemonic incursions during the Warp Storms that followed the formation of the Great Rift in 999.M41. The Astral Templars found themselves clinging precariously close to existence. The Astral Templars were successful in halting this incursion, though their stubbornness in the face of overwhelming odds cost them greatly.

When the forces of the Indomitus Crusade entered orbit above Hydroghast, they brought more than just reinforcements to the Astral Templars -- they brought a future. From Archmagos Belisarius Cawl's freighter-hulk Zar-Quaesitor, a new generation of Astral Templars -- the Primaris Space Marines -- joined the fray.