[hider=Parion Sharratar]
[b]Name:[/b] Parion Sharratar

[b]Chapter:[/b] Black Swords

[b]Chapter Demeanour:[/b] The Black Swords are a loyalist Space Marine Chapter raised during an unknown Founding, their origins a mystery subject to much speculation. The minor genetic mutation that they exhibit in the form of unsettling, completely black eyes certainly could raise some questions, but it is the Chapter's demeanor in combat that is most responsible for the scrutiny they are subjected to. In the heat of battle they slaughter with unrestrained enthusiasm, displaying a bloodlust few can match as they gleefully cut their enemies down with boltgun fire and roar savagely when tearing them apart with chainswords or even their bare hands.

However, and despite the appearances, the Black Swords are not mindless berserkers. Their strict discipline and strong bonds of brotherhood allows them to not become overwhelmed by their lust for battle and slaughter, instead turning it into a weapon to be unleashed when the time is right. Although the Chapter adheres to the Codex Astartes in principle, complying with the standard thousand Battle-Brothers limit, their organisation and tactics deviate quite substancially. They consider the Codex Astartes to be a useful guide and a treasure trove of information and tactical wisdom, but not without potential blind spots or inadequacies depending on the situation. The Black Swords do not believe in battle honour and are more than willing to employ every trickery and low blows available if it can grant them victory. As a result, their tactics are very unpredictable and often unconventional, but also quite effective.

Surprisingly, the Chapter regularly sends some of its best warriors to serve in the Deathwatch. In fact, the Black Swords have a rather close relationship with the Ordo Xenos, as a way to shield themselves from the zealous Inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus.

[b]Personal Demeanour:[/b] Like his battle-brothers, Parion appreciates combat and killing with the same savage joy. This contrasts heavily with his otherwise friendly and brotherly attitude. The relatively young Black Sword seeks out companionship with other Astartes, and even mortals on the rare occasions that his Chapter is deployed alongside Imperial Guard elements. Many outsiders find this rather peculiar blend of a personality somewhat unsettling or outright disturbing, as he will gladly exchange war stories and have pleasant conversations on one day and be found on the next in the midst of ferocious bloodshed, barely recognizable as he would emerge from the battle covered with his foe's innards and holding a bloodied new trophy in his armored gauntlet.

One would be ill-advised to take Parion for a mere killer, though. He has a keen tactical mind and takes his duties very seriously, and he is not likely to let anyone making light of his capabilities as one of the Imperium's elites get off easily. Nevertheless, he is aware that pride can be a fault and is not the type to make it a personal offense of every comment and criticism. It is worth noting that he does hold some strong opinions of his own, notably on those Chapters who strictly adhere to the Codex Astartes, a reflection of his own Chapter's tense relationships with the sons of Guilliman. In a rather predictable fashion, he usually does not particularly appreciate those of outstanding religious zeal either, who in turn tend to consider him and his brethren as dangerous degenerates.

[b]Speciality:[/b] Close-range and melee specialist.

[b]Rank:[/b] Fourth Company Veteran. The Black Swords do not regroup all of their veterans in a single company; instead, every company has its own veteran squads.

[b]Power Armour History:[/b] When a Black Sword rises to the rank of Veteran, he leaves his power armour behind to be in the care of a fresh initiate, and instead dons the armour of one of the Veterans who preceded him and fell in battle. These suits of power armour consequently have much history attached to them, each new owner adding his deeds to its story and legend. Parion's is no exception, made up of parts from different models as they had to be replaced throughout the centuries. The helmet and greaves, both of the Mk IV "Maximus" pattern, are obvious witnesses of a long and glorious past. According to the Chapter's Librarius, this suit saw service during the Great Heresy and was donned by great heroes who ultimately suffered a cruel death at the hands of traitors. Since then, the successive owners of the suit have been recorded as powerful combatants, either seeking out and slaying the enemy's champions or slaughtering their soldiers in droves. Parion's predecessor was very different from the one who would take his place; a hulking beast of a Space Marine, whose strength and savagery alike were unmatched in the whole company and who was said to have killed more than two hundred Orks in a single engagement. The Chapter Artificers had to resize the Power Armour substancially so it would properly fit its new owner.

[b]Description:[/b] His pale skin and copper-red hair contrast with his Chapter's typical pitch black eyes, only a faint lighter circle indicating the direction in which he's looking. A diagonal scar runs down his angular face and onto his collarbone, where an eldar blade perforated his armour when he was but an initiate. He collected many other scars over the years, a proof of his bravery for facing down exceptional foes and talent for defeating them.

Parion Sharratar wearing his black and grey armour is an intimidating sight. The arms are wrapped with chains that are traditionally used for the Black Swords' gladiatorial fights, and a human skull hangs from his belt; a trophy taken from an Astartes Chaos sorcerer. An eldar spirit stone is strapped onto the pauldron that bears the heraldic crossed swords of the Chapter, a reminder of the warrior who came closest to killing him.

[b]Skills:[/b] Parion is an excellent swordsman and displays a sense of balance that is truly exceptional, even for an Astartes. From his integration as a neophyte he displayed an affinity for melee combat and a remarkable ability to fire on instinct accurately, and he put these traits to good use against xenos and traitors alike. He has shown perfectly adequate skill in the other forms of Astartes warfare, but this made him a prime candidate for becoming an assault specialist.
 
[b]History:[/b] Parion does not remember much of his early life. Taken by the Black Swords' apothecaries at a young age from the feudal world of Talison, he just barely managed to pass the trials and for a time it looked like he would be a rather mediocre recruit, just worthy enough to become a Space Marine but nothing more. But as he trained, fought and recieved the geneseed implants that would gradually make him an Astartes, he showed incredible improvements. Something had awoken in him and he quickly became the best fighter of all his comrades who were selected around the same time. Whatever attachement he could have had to his previous family, he found a new one among the Emperor's Angels of Death.

While he never showed the qualities of a commander, his name kept coming up after every campaign that he took part in. He seemed to always go just beyond the achievements and ferocity of his peers, who were formidable warriors in their own right, and was rarely defeated in the gladiatorial fights he often participated in. Despite the distrust that the rest of the Imperium displayed towards his Chapter and himself, Parion lived a fulfilling life in the company of his brothers.

He faced his greatest challenge when his company's strike cruiser succeded in tracking down a traitor Astartes warship that had been conducting piracy operations in the sector. The Black Swords boarded the vessel and set off to crippling the ship by attacking the engine blocks and the bridge, and Parion found himself in the vanguard heading towards the bridge, shooting and hacking his way towards the enemy command center with his squad. But as the loyalists finally overcame the renegade Space Marines barring their way and forced the bridge's blast doors open with melta charges, they came under a devastating psychic attack, vile sorcery burning through their power armour with unnatural blue flames. Many died at the sorcerer's hands, but Parion avoided the eldritch fire with the speed and agility that granted him victory so many times. Closing in on the traitor, he ignored the whispers that promised him strength and power as the two Space Marines crossed swords. The fight was blindingly fast-paced, each of them receiving wound after wound until the Black Sword finally managed to grab a hold of his opponent's arm and twisted it behing his back, before unloading his plasma pistol at point blank range into the sorcerer's neck, vaporising his flesh and spine and severing his head clean off his shoulders.

After this exploit, Parion was set to become part of his company's Veterans, the Chapter's elite, despite his relatively young age for an Astartes. However, the masters of the Black Swords had taken notice of him and planned to send him to accomplish a vigil for the Deathwatch. This was a great honour awarded to him, being chosen to represent his Chapter in this prestigious order. But it was also a new challenge of a very different kind, for the young Astartes who watched the closing airlock doors of the shuttle that was to carry him to the Watch Fortress felt like he missed his brothers already.

[b]Equipment and Armament:[/b] Although he is proficient with any weapon in the Adeptus Astartes' arsenal, Parion's arms of choice are the standard Astartes chainsword and a bolt pistol as well as a plasma pistol, swapping between the two during combat depending on his current need.
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