Pontifex Guard
Pontifex Guards are troops which often serve as the protectors and enforcers of Apostate Cardinals. Known to be fanatically loyal, these warriors are grim followers of the anti-Imperial ideology of their masters. They are the elites of the elites of the Lost and the Damned and their skill is needed in defending such an important figure in the renegade army. Pontifex Guards not only accompany their guardian but also helps further spread his/her blasphemous ideology upon defenseless Imperial worlds.
It is unknown how many Pontifex Guards are needed to protect the Cardinal, but it is estimated to be around a few dozen at maximum. To be promoted into the Pontifex Guards, the aspiring mortal must both be zealous and loyal to the will of the Dark Gods at its most extreme and must endure a set of grueling tests to prove his worth to the Cardinal.
Equipment
Pontifex Guards as they are the protectors of an important individual, is armed with the best wargear and armoury that the Lost and the Damned can both find, craft or loot. Basic loadout includes a heavy, broad shield, carapace armour and a Close Combat weapon, the most common of which are Power Swords. Pontifex Guards are notifiable with their iconic hood and cape and heavy and pronounced armour.