Righteous warriors who battle the Daemon and heretic in single combat with blessed blade and power sword; they guard their allies with faith and shield, standing firm against the unholy tide.
“The Emperor is my shield, and I am His sword.”
–Brother Aegin Rorhst, before the Scouring of Fayrel
Role aptitudes
Knowledge, Offence, Strength, Toughness, Willpower
Role talent
Bodyguard or Deny the Witch
Role bonus
Smite the Unholy: In addition to the normal uses of Fate points (see page 293 of the Dark Heresy Core Rulebook), a Crusader character can also spend a Fate Point to automatically pass a Fear test with a number of degrees of success equal to his Willpower bonus. In addition, whenever he inflicts a hit with a melee attack against a target with the Fear (X) trait, he inflicts X additional damage and counts his weapon’s penetration as being X higher.
Against the predations of the Daemon, faith is the ultimate
bulwark. Crusaders are stalwart defenders against the
denizens of the Warp, righteous warriors who battle
against the unholy with sword and shield. Skilled as they are with
a blade or hammer, it is their strength of will that allows Crusaders
to stand against the Daemon where others falter. While hell-forged
blades and wicked claws can rend flesh and end lives, the greatest
threat the Daemon poses is to the soul. To enter the fray against
the denizens of the Warp, Crusaders must have faith as unyielding
as adamantium. Crusaders possess such faith and the strength to
battle the unholy forces of the Archenemies of Mankind in heroic
combat, inspiring their allies with their courage and skill at arms.
The role of the crusader
The Crusader protects his allies from the unholy enemy, both with
his martial abilities and the strength of his faith. He can serve an
important role in any warband, bearing the brunt of the enemy’s
assault in order to protect allies, but is invaluable when facing
daemonic adversaries. Resilient and focused as much on protection
as on attack, as shown by the large shield he likely favours, a
Crusader is a paragon of righteous battle. Standing strong against
the enemy, a Crusader absorbs blows and gives back in equal
measure against his foes, daemonic or otherwise.
A Crusader excels in single combat, taking the fight to the
foe to neutralise the threat or buy time for his allies to complete
their mission. Although heroic single combat is where he shines,
a Crusader can also hold the line against the gibbering tide of
horrid foes. A Crusader’s strong defence allows him to survive
outnumbered where others would fall. However, even if it means
sacrificing himself, a Crusader stands firm so that the side of
righteousness wins the day. Often, an inspirational death can turn
the tide of a battle as surely as any cleaving strike or accurate shot,
and the Crusader knows the true importance is the final defeat
of his unholy nemeses, for to lose against such foes is more than
mere defeat—it can spell the doom of entire world’s worth of souls.
The Crusader lives to battle the unholy enemies of humanity.
One serving in a warband is certain to receive numerous
opportunities to test his skills against heretics and deadly xenos.
Perhaps the greatest calling for a Crusader is to serve an Inquisitor
from the Ordo Malleus, pitting his sword against the Archenemies
of Mankind. A sanctified blade is a potent weapon against the
daemonic, at least in the hands of a skilled warrior. But even the
greatest swordsman is of no use against the Daemon, should
he succumb to fear or falter in his faith. A Crusader’s resolve
is as strong as his sword arm, ensuring the mental and spiritual
fortitude to see the fight through and stand against the unholy foe.
Almost without exception, the Crusader is a master of melee
combat, favouring a sanctified sword, axe, or mace to purge the
daemonic. He is likely to eschew ranged weapons altogether. Many
Crusaders view it as the ultimate show of faith and courage to
take the fight to the Daemon in personal combat. In a warband,
a Crusader fulfils the role of front-line melee combatant. He does
not sneak or shirk from the foe, but faces it head-on. Such displays
of courage and faith inspire other Acolytes, giving them the resolve
to fight on against otherworldly enemies.
crusader characters
Although many Crusaders have ties to the Adeptus Ministorum,
they can come from any background. Many are drawn from the
ranks of the numerous Frateris Militias across the Imperium or
Adepta Sororitas Orders, all of which ensure they have a properly
fervent hatred for their enemies. Others can come from noble
families—especially those with proud traditions of honourable
martial combat—or Imperial Guard regiments already inured
to unending war and the foes that Mankind faces. A zealous
Arbitrator might find herself drawn to the life of a Crusader,
already expert in acting as the final line of defence against enemies
who would overthrow humanity. Even a member of the Machine
Cult might live to pit his mighty Omnissian power axe against the
vile creations of hereteks, replacing his weak flesh with machine to
render body and mind impervious to the predators of the Warp.
A Crusader does not have to have been forged from a martial
background, however. A simple pilgrim who faces down a heretic—
or worse—might launch a crusade against the unrighteous and the
daemonic, and make it his life’s purpose to seek out such combats
wherever he ventures in his travels. An Adeptus Administratum
functionary who uncovered ancient records of a incursion from
beyond could take up sword and shield to prevent a reoccurrence,
having deciphered glyphs indicating the Warp is ready to erupt
shortly, and without her actions a hive might fall—even though she
does not expect to live through the conflict herself.
What defines a Crusader is his dedication to battling the unholy. Consequently, many Crusaders can trace their oath to a single defining event, or have always known their calling to be battling the enemies of the Emperor. A Crusader might be witness to a daemonic incursion, or even hail from a Daemon world.
Such an individual who comes through the experience alive and with his soul and sanity intact is profoundly changed, and he might well dedicate his life to combatting the scourge of the Daemon.
Sample crusader: Cassara Novia
Sergeant Cassara Novia served for many years as an armswoman aboard the Navy cruiser Unyielding Triumph.
During this time, she pitted her shock maul and suppression shield against pirates, alien raiders, and even Chaos reavers. In each battle, she fought with courage and skill, leading her squad to hold the corridors of the vessel against boarders, or leading attacking forces to take enemy ships. Her greatest test, however, came with the most feared of events that might befall a voidship—a Gellar field failure. As Daemons of the Warp swarmed the ship, many of the crew succumbed to madness and mutation even before falling to the unholy claws and blades of the attackers.
Most of the Unyielding Triumph’s crew were helpless against the daemonic onslaught. Yet Novia’s faith held firm, and she rallied her armsmen to defend the ship’s enginarium as Enginseers and Tech-Adepts frantically beseeched the Omnissiah to restore the protective Gellar Field. Novia held the line against the unholy creatures long enough for a strange group of passengers to reach the enginarium, powerful individuals who were able to hold back the daemonic tide with esoteric weapons and abilities as the Tech-Priests completed their work. In the aftermath, many of the crew faced mind-wiping or execution for what they had seen, but the intimidating leader of the mysterious group offered Novia another path. Now, she travels the sector, pitting her faith and shield against the Daemon wherever it may be found.
Crusader sample paths
For many Crusaders, the only way to properly serve the
Emperor is to seek out and smite Daemons and witches at
every opportunity. This especially holds true whenever single
combat is possible, as here a Crusader can pit himself and his
skills against the foulest of Mankind’s enemies. To create such
a character, the player should look to advancing the Crusader’s
martial skills, but also ensure the character knows the dangers
his enemy poses and can withstand the terrifying nature of
these foes.
recommended advances :
Characteristics: Strength, Weapon Skill, Willpower
Skills: Awareness, Dodge, Forbidden Lore (Daemonology, Psykers), Parry
Talents: Counter Attack, Hatred (Daemons), Killing Strike, Resistance (Fear, Psychic Powers)
Some Crusaders view their position in the warband as
bulwarks against the daemonic, and act as protectors when
investigations draw the Acolytes against the forces from
beyond. Thus protected, their comrades can safely conduct
banishment rites, close Warp breaches, and destroy heretical
artefacts. In fashioning this type of Crusader, players should
look towards defensive abilities and improvements so the
character can absorb punishment. These Crusaders also benefit
from improved healing skills, as well as ways to inspire or at
least terrify their charges into resisting these enemies.
recommended advances :
Characteristics: Fellowship, Toughness, Willpower
Skills: Athletics, Command, Medicae, Tech-Use, Trade (Armourer)
Talents: Bodyguard, Combat Master, Die Hard, Iron Jaw, Shield Wall, Sound Constitution
Ignis Aeternus WH 40K campaign notes 