The Custodian Guard, the Emperor's personal guard and companions, the greatest warriors to ever exist in the Imperium. Each handcrafted by the Emperor himself before the Unification Wars, armed with weapons and armour that has no rival, execpt that of the Primarchs. Answering to no-one, other than the Emperor himself.

For 10,000 years, since their Lord was interred upon the Golden Throne in the days after the Horus Heresy, they stood silent vigil over the hallowed halls of the continent-sized complex that was the Imperial Palace upon Terra, ensuring the safety of the Emperor, who yet lives in death.

Guest is one of them. Having been inducted into their ranks as an infant, and forged by the Emperor's own hand into a warrior suited for the Adeptus Custodes before he started the Unification Wars.

Currently, they stood as still as a statue in one of the many halls of the Imperial Palace. To the mortal onlookers, Guest is just an auramite statue. They had stood there for 3 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 7 hours, 8 minutes, and 56 seconds, ever vigilant for all of those seconds. If you looked closely, you'd have been able to see a small film of dust on their golden armour.

A High Lord and his seemingly endless entourage passes before Guest, with the associated pomp and gaudiness expected from such a man. The High Lord paid no attention to Guest, of course, as he has no time for 'fancy statues'.

In the distance, Guest sees another Custodian sprinting down the giant hallways while on patrol. Makes sense, as to cover the sheer distance, one needs to sprint to fulfill their duties. Guest sends a request for ID verification. Blood surges to their long dormant muscles, their hand imperceptibly tightening around their Guardian Spear, and they calculate the exact pressure needed to pierce auramite armour, how many mortals to be pushed aside or trampled, the exact arc to bring their weapon dow-

The ID check comes through, confirming the other Custodian's identity. In that single millisecond, Guest had prepared to engage a potential threat, to neutralise a possible foe.

Such is the duty of a Custodian. The ranks of the Emperor’s 10,000 are filled with the best warriors to ever draw breath. All willing to give their lives to defend their Lord, should he rise from his undeath once more.