This entire section is one attempt to describe the long history of the Dark Angels in a linear form. Every known piece of history and event based on GW publications has been written in my own words and linked together in a reasonably plausible manner by additional fiction. This is in no way the official GW version nor is it in anyway an attempt to infringe on their IP. There are many versions of imperial history buried within the sands of time and this is but just one of them. Read on if you dare!

PHALANX MORTIS ARCANUM PRIMUS ( Level I ) Chronicled By ( Shadow Guard )

CODEX ASTARTES ANGELUS MORTIS

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ANNULUM INTIMA "The Inner Circle"

ANNULUM MEDIANUS "The Middle Circle"

ANNULUM EXTERNA "The Outer Circle"

Arcanum Primus is the pinnacle of achievement for a Dark Angel. It is made up of the highest ranking members of the Deathwing who decide the direction of the chapter's future. Admission criteria and process A minimum of one hundred years of service at the rank of grandmaster must be achieved before a member of the Deathwing will be considered for advancement in to the level one, or the inner most of the inner circles. A significant event took place in the aftermath of the heresy when the Deathwing organization was created. This was the debate that raged within the inner circle as to the creation of yet another level, the Arcanum Suprema, consisting only of the Supreme Grandmaster, and the Grandmasters of the Librarium and chaplains. However, in the end judgment weighed against such a level, as the terrible burden of secrets was deemed too heavy even for the superhuman constitution of the three individuals. It was also recognized that the concentration of undue power within a few individuals may affect the chapter in a manner similar to that of the heresy. Thus within each of the circles all are equal and may speak, challenge or support each other freely. Knowledge There is nothing about the chapter that these individuals do not know. It is on their admission that they come to know the true facts about the outcome of the battle on Caliban ten thousand years ago. Almost all are over awed by their realization that the arch heretic luther, brother and betrayer of the lion does indeed live to this date, and within the confines of the deepest dungeons of the Tower of Angels. Eligibility Only a select few within the hierarchy of the Dark Angels chapter are allowed in to this level, all of whom have reached the level of Grandmaster and have lead a distinguished and unblemished record of service. The venerable members of the innermost circle are as follows:                    Supreme Grandmaster of the Dark Angels Chapter, Supreme Grandmaster Azrael                    Grandmaster of Librarians, Grandmaster Ezekiel                    Grandmaster of Chaplains, Grandmaster Sapphon                    Master of the Deathwing Company, Grandmaster Gabriel                    Master of the Ravenwing Company, Grandmaster Gideon                    Grandmaster of the Forge, Grandmaster Fortius                    Grandmaster Helix Primus, Grandmaster Nathaniel                    Grandmaster of the Household, Grandmaster Turael                    Grandmaster of the Tower, Grandmaster Aradiel                    Grandmaster of Victuals, Grandmaster Mephistophel                    Grandmaster of the Fleet, Grandmaster Apollyon

Training and Deployment At this heightened level of command, little training is required, as the entire lives of these individuals have been dedicated towards their goal of serving the chapter in general and commanding their various organizations in specific. These men singularly share the ultimate secrets and the unrelenting burden of deciding the future of their chapter. They have no individual mentors, but always have the council of their fellow grandmasters of the first level. Theirs is a lonely task, made easier only by the knowledge that they share it with ten other super humans who walk their paths simultaneously. These Dark Angels, rejoice in their chapter's victories, anguish in their defeats, pray for every redeemed soul and till their death stand together in brotherhood, yet walk their path in solitude.