Categories: "Setting"
Balphomael - The Horned Darkness
Castor's many diviners, sorcerers, and witches have uncovered proof that the Calixis sector is home to an extraordinarily powerful Chaos entity: Balphomael, the Horned Darkness
Whether you want to call it an unbelievably powerful daemon or a minor god is debatable. In terms of influence in the local area (Calixis in particular, and to a lesser extent neighbouring sectors and territories) he is definitely god-like. It is believed that this daemon have been part of Calixian mythology and religious life for as long as there have been people out here. Around 20.000 years in other worlds. As far as your librarium and templum can determine the entity is not so keen on breaking through into reality, but rather more focused on creation cults and gaining worshippers.
The Broken Angel has a small, abandoned shrine that may have been dedicated to Balphomael once. There is also a very brief mention of a horned darkness in a fragment of Lorgar's writings, so the Primarch may have encountered it or its minions during his great pilgrimage. The writings of the proto-deacons are rather more interesting: They mention the Horned Darkness as a power to be placated, but not worshipped. Various holy texts go on to explain that the Horned Darkness is an insidious and jealous thing, prone to subverting the faith of those that interact with it (which isn't good as he deacons Lorgar inspired were to worship chaos undivided, not a single daemon-deity).
Note: Balphomael is not the same entity as the wicked Crow Father!
Domina Angelica Palantina, Arch mistress of the divine will coven.
Angelica Palantina is a nom de guerre, all Daughters take them as a mockery of the names borne by the sisters of battle. But the name of angel is well suited to her, among the most beautiful women, pale of skin and red of hair, a color that match er fiery zeal.
Angelica was one of the first Daughters that Arch Domina Kimery recruited from the below-decks of the Bringer of faith. She was fierce, almost feral child, that's how she survived the hard conditions of the slave decks.
Difficult to control then and granted the Arch Domina has beaten some of that out of her, she has a eye for potential that made her keep at it with the ungrateful and feisty Angelica, beatings and prayer aside Angelica remains fierce (but less independent) to this day.
Angelica rose true the ranks of the Daughters, and early showed a nack for attacking up close with the neck braking speeds the jump pack offered. She leads her Daughters in support of the Assault Astardes. She knows is and leads the elites of the Daughters and acts accordingly.
Black Legion (ex. Sons of Horus, ex. Luna Wolves)
Founding: 1st (M30). No successors.
Primarch: Horus (Deceased)
Affiliation: Chaos Undivided
Original homeworld: Cthonia (destroyed)
Current homeworld: None
Organization: Originally known as the Luna Wolves. Renamed in honour of the great Warmaster. Widely regarded as the best Legion overall, with plenty of strengths and no particular weaknesses. Took the name Black Legion after Horus' death. The bulk of the BL now serves Abaddon the Despoiler (aka. Ezekiel the Just).
Chaplain Tol Amar
Chaplain Tol Amar is the quintessential Word Bearer. Charismatic, skilled, and cunning. Brave in battle, skilled as a leader. Ambitious, but loyal to his master. Contemplative and visionary at the same time. Tol Amar may be among the most ambitious of Castor's acolytes, but he's also one of the few that show real promise. If Castor wanted someone (which he don't) to forge a Host of their own - or succeed him - Tol Amar might be such a one.
Tol Amar hails from Sicarus, but he lacks the pure Colchisian blood that is so popular among the upper echelons. Instead he's an orphan of dubious parentage, a survivor that clung to life and climbed up the temple stairs, one painful step at the time.
Venerable Dreadnought Sis Tak
Sis Tak is perhaps the most venerable Word Bearer dreadnought there is. At the very least he's one of the oldest. He started life as a Terran, got drafted for the Great Crusade, and was a veteran long before Lorgar was found. Mortally wounded in battle, he was among the first Astartes to be entombed within a Dreadnought. When the 10th Chapter (now Host) was formed he was added to the roster to bring experience, wisdom - and firepower to the fledgeling Chapter. Sis Tak spends most of his days slumbering and meditating. He's fairly sane and a source of much wisdom. He also has the ear of many of the older veterans.
Coryphaeus Imran Dhral
Imran Dhral is a native of Sicarus, a man from one of the proud Colchisian pureblood families. He served as Captain of the 3rd Company under Obel Gar. He emerged as the best leader and strategos during the post-Samson war games. If he can be said to have any weaknesses it is a lack of personal battle prowess (relatively speaking - he a match for any veteran or sergeant in the Host, just not up there with the best of the best). He's actually above average when it comes to faith and zeal, but he never lets it get in the way of his duties as Coryphaeus, which tends to confuse some of the less illuminated brethren. It is perhaps also hard for him to shine in the preacher department when he's so close to Castor.
Chaplain Hiram "Flayer" Salicar
Chaplain Salicar or the flayer as he is know in the 10th Host, he came to the host on the shrineship "Broken Angel" where he served as chaplain and he keept that job in the 10th. Hiram has truly blomed in the service of the 10th, where he has grown in power and mastery of the word, and he has recived gifts form the gods to match.
Hiram is the chaplain for the 20th coy where he is a fine balance to the captains "new" and "inovative" ways of doing things.
The Flayer is old school and is the arch type of how the empire of man view a WB chaplain. He dilivers his litanis and ceremons with cold hatred, the venom drips(litiraly as he as a mutation in that Astardes gland)when he speaks. His skin is old and streched like ancient pargament. His eys are red and yellow and he has poison dripping fangs in his mouth. On his bald head a number of horn resembeling bone growts has started to apear. He flays is war victims and use the skin as pargamet to wirte pasages of the holy word for his company and to make cloaks for him self and the champions of fait in the 20th.
A little know fact is that Chaplain Salicar also provide the Apostel with hand made human/posthuman skin pargament. Almost all the apostels writings are made on skin that the Flayer has lovingly prepaired.(a fact that he takes emence personal and private pride inn). The remains of the victims are renerd down to, fats and oils, some made into candels other parts given to the 10th Hosts sorceres as spell/ritual ingridiants, as a old school chaplain he lives by the waste not want not maxim.
Captain Anaximander
Anaximander is formerly of the Adeptus Astartes. Turned renegade and worked as a mercenary and pirate for millennia, before finding true purpose in the Word. He eventually wound up in the 10th Host, where he served for a long time under Obel Gar, without being able to realize his potential. Castor, however, quickly recognized him as one of the deadliest warriors in the 10th - and a fine leader and tactician.
Captain Tam Caron
Captain Tam Caron is Obel Gar's old Coryphaeus. Following the ordeal at Samson IV the 10th Host was reorganized. Tam Caron was responsible for many needless Astartes death, but Castor understood only too well that he had conducted the assault as best he could. The merciful Castor let him live on in a role more suited to his nature; as Captain of the 10th specialist Assault company.
In his new capacity he continues to suffer from high attrition, but Castor takes pains to mitigate losses by making sore Caron's assaults are well supported. This combination has proven effective; the Assault Company has yet to fail to take an objective and losses have been within acceptable limits. Castor also know that, if need be, he can release Tam Caron and his men and be certain of victory - no matter the cost.
Tam Caron owns a potent suit of chaos armour (equivalent of artificer armour, plus something extra) and carries and mighty daemon-sword.
Cult of Baal-Krieg
The Obliterator cult that worship under the guiding eye of the daemon Baal-Krieg. Their patron is both an aspect of the ancient daemon Baal and something dark and terrible that awoke on Krieg (they have a shrine to Baal-Krieg abourd the ship). They Obliterators number only 57.
Cult of the Crow Eaters (Raptors)
Then there is the Raptor cult of the Crow Eaters. Numbering 66 current members. There were many more back in the day, but their numbers have dwindled after they lost faith in the old patron, who was known as the Crow Father. Back then they were called the Crow Brethren. The current leader of the cult got a vision of the Crow Father's betrayal of the Word and the true gods. He then lead the true Raptors in a short and bloody civil war - where he killed the old leader and assumed the mantle of leader.
Of late he has been bothered by doubts; after reading some of Lorgar's own words, as handed down by the Calixian cultists he is no longer sure about his interpretation of the visions. He's still convinced the purge was the right thing to do and that he's the natural leader of the cult, but he's beginning to realize there is more to this than meets the inner eye.
Coven of the Prima Filia
The coven of the Prima Filia(first Daughter) is where Arch Domina Kimery has plased what free resorses she has. She has formed a new coven numbering 1000 daugthers after the battle of Zeghyr ehen weapons and armour became abundant for a time. The coven is stationed with 500 abourd the Dutiful Daughter as ship protection and body guard for the Arch domina her self. 250 are abord teh Verbum as a honnor guard for the apostle(They form part of the pernmant ship forces) The others are spread in the fleet in 50 Daugthers strong units, the priority goes to ships and captains that have a less than sertan loyalty. They go as a bodyguard from the Apostel(so refusing them is not a option) Where they guard the ship with the brotherhood warriors and the deacons of faith.
CL DURANTES FURY
CL DURANTES FURY- Defiant class light cruiser, has two squadrons of Furies. captured over Valpolicella. The pilots abord the fury was luered by the astral harpy to change sides, they took the whole ship over and whent over in the service of the true gods. They serve with the support task force, protecting the tarnsports and Titan tender toghter with the daughters Iconclast destroyer Broken chain.
Captain Parlen-ur
Parlen-ur was nominally First Captain of the Sicarus replacements. He was the only officer of that batch that was found acceptable and given company command. Parlen-ur is a true believer among true believers. He could easily have become a Chaplain - in Obel Gar's day he would undoubtedly have done very well.
Captain Ral-Haron
Ral-Haron was a sergeant from the Sicarus replacements. He had some experience fighting in smaller battles in the Eye of Terror. He counts an intermediate daemon of Khorne as his finest melee kill. He was promoted from sergeant rank by Castor's will. Not because he was actually qualified to be a full captain, but because he showed great promise. At the time it was all that mattered, as the 10th Host didn't have enough experienced commanders. Since then he's proven himself qualified.