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Rogue428
06-22-2010, 06:26 PM
Hey guys,

Quick questions RE: Grey Knights of the Ordo Malleus.

Would another Astartes chapter recognize the Grey Knights. I don't mean a captain or someone high up. We assume Sgt spacemarine would recognize a Salamander or an Ultramarine and it would be hard to miss a Space Wolf. I mean like if Sgt Joe Spacemarine from the BagODonuts Chapter suddenly came across a squad of Grey Knights in the field, would he know who they were?

MINOR SPOILER: In one of the Grey Knight novels there is a Sister of Battle who recognizes them, but she says that she only did because she had fought alongside Grey Knights before. Everyone else in that particular incident very clearly does not know who they are.

Curious as to what the consensus is.

DarkLink
06-22-2010, 06:40 PM
It is possible, but not particularly likely. Grey Knights operate in extreme secrecy, so for someone to know about them, they would have to either be an Inquisitor of the Ordos Malleus (or heavily involved in those activities), or have fought side by side with the Grey Knights. And if they somehow manage to survive that battle without being killed or corrupted (and then killed by the Grey Knights for their corruption), that's quite an impressive feat.

Now, it's possible that other Space Marines might have heard of them. The Grey Knights have had to have been called out for a few major actions, such as the Third War for Armageddon, and their legend may have spread by whispers through some of the Chapters involved there.

But most Guardsmen and the like would have thought of the Grey Knights as just another chapter of Space Marines, and only the Space Marine survivors would probably realize "hey, who the heck are those guys?"


So, a Space Marine of certain chapters might have heard whispers of the Grey Knights, but may know nothing more than that, and might not even recognize them on sight.

Just_Me
06-23-2010, 04:23 PM
Well, space marine chapters tend to have long memories, so a marine whose chapter had fought alongside the Grey Knights in the past might know of them from the lore of the chapter, but likely little more than legends. As you said, Captains, Masters, Librarians, and Chaplains might know more, but even so they are very unlikely to have heard particulars. The Space Wolves for instance most certainly know of them from the First War of Armageddon, for which they still carry a grudge against the Inquisition.

Most other Imperial organizations would have no knowledge of them at all, and, if they were to see them, would probably not see them as anything but "normal" space marines. Recall that to the average Imperial citizen or even Guardsman/woman the Astartes are likely legendary figures whom they know exist but will most likely never see.

The fact is the Grey Knights are without doubt the most secretive arm of an incredibly secretive organization, few individuals would likely be ALLOWED to know about them, and that knowledge alone might be enough to warrant death or mind scrubbing.

Freefall945
06-23-2010, 10:43 PM
And if they somehow manage to survive that battle without being killed or corrupted (and then killed by the Grey Knights for their corruption), that's quite an impressive feat.

I think it's important to note that while the Inquisition is rather purge happy, it's rare in the extreme that they extend they desire to purge to space marines. In any engagement where there are Grey Knights and X Chapter, the Grey Knights are extremely likely to be outnumbered by a huge margin. Even if they felt it righteous to attack their 'lesser' brothers for being exposed to demons, it's unlikely they could follow through.

A Marine is too valuable an asset to purge so frivolously.

Just_Me
06-24-2010, 10:30 AM
A Marine is too valuable an asset to purge so frivolously.

Yes, which is why Marines are more likely to know about them, but in extreme cases they might be inclined to mind-scrub them (wipe their recent memories, or in more extreme cases, obliterate their entire personality). The same goes for highly specialized troops of other branches who are deemed too valuable to dispose of out of hand, but whose exposure is considered to risky to ignore. Sort of a more grimdark version of the neuralizer, aka "flashy-thingy." :D

khornelord0129
06-24-2010, 10:33 AM
Sort of a more grimdark version of the neuralizer, aka "flashy-thingy." :D

Ya, its called the muzzel flash of a storm bolter.

Melissia
06-24-2010, 12:00 PM
No, they don't have to kill them to wipe their mind.