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 SECUNDUS ( Level II ) 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"

It is at this level, that the command staff of the chapter, begin to come together as a headquarters organization. Admission criteria and process As select and as stringent as the requirements might be for entry in to and advancement up the Deathwing levels, few make it in to the second level. Only the most exceptional and skilled Masters of the Deathwing are even eligible for consideration. Advancement in to the second level accompanies their promotion to the rank of Grandmaster. Librarians who achieve the rank of epistolary can only do so once they have achieved at least one successful interrogation, regardless of its outcome. The most senior and experienced interrogator-chaplain, are honoured by an unofficial level called the "Order of the Black pearl". (Ordo Infusco Caligus) Achievement of a single successful interrogation leading to a confession and repentance by a fallen and thus the awarding of the first black pearl, is the criteria of admission to this. Once the individuals have achieved either of these ranks, they are automatically inducted in to the second level of the Deathwing. Knowledge The knowledge of the fallen and the chapter's past that is available to this level is exactly the same as the previous level III. The only distinction between the two levels is the personal experience and knowledge gathered by each individual, in their various missions and interrogations. It is at the level of the secundus that these Dark Angels are allowed to communicate and interact with the enigmatic entities that populate the deepest caverns of the Tower of Angels, the Watchers in the Dark. Eligibility Choosing the rare individual, who has the capacity to shoulder the massive amount of responsibility of being a Grandmaster in the Dark Angels is an extremely difficult and delicate task. Potential and promising Masters are constantly observed, allowed to lead individual and specific strike forces and their combat ability, leadership qualities, diplomatic skills and administrative capacity all strictly assessed without the individual's knowledge. Much of this occurs when the individual master is assigned to the chapter's headquarters, where they are rotated through the various commands to gather experience in al chapter functions. It is only when all such requirements have been met will such a master be eligible for consideration of promotion. At this stage the Master is then re-assigned to a company, be it the first, second or one of the battle companies and sent back in to the battle line for a while. Only when he has distinguished himself particularly well in a mission, would the promotion to Grandmaster take place. This helps to justify the promotion to the battle brothers of the chapter while hiding the truth of his real achievement. As for the librarians and interrogator-chaplains of the chapter, achieving their own formidable goals of the level of epistolary or admission in to the Ordo Infusco Caligus is in itself reason enough to enter the second level of the Deathwing. Training and Deployment Once the rank of Grandmaster is achieved, the particular Dark Angel is assigned to one of the many command positions within the chapter. By this time he would have received a significant amount of exposure within the chapter's command headquarters. Thus he would then be assigned to either a command position as the master of one of the battle or reserve companies. Two specific positions of command, namely that of master of Deathwing company and master of Ravenwing company, differ from the rest.  To achieve this, a potential successor is assigned to that specific company while at the level

of master. In this position as second in command, he will continue to serve for decades if not a century or more, accumulating the particular traits and experience unique to that company. When the master of their particular company (of grandmaster rank) moves on, either from battle injuries or from promotion, the second in command, is promoted to the rank of grandmaster and given command of the company. Epistolaries remain based in the Tower of Angels while those interrogator-chaplains of the order of the black pearl remain attached to the chapter's headquarters. The latter are never attached to specific companies. These exceptional individuals may, however, when the need arises, lead specific strike forces, usually on missions that are intimately entwined with the fallen.