The Golden Spears are ready for reentry. [hider=Primarch] [b]Name:[/b] Kaldun, the Golden Conqueror [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Homeworld:[/b] Baalros Baalros is a Feral Death planet located on the far reaches of imperial space and is mostly mountainous terrain with frozen valleys in between the peaks, filled with mutated monsters. Nearly all of the 15 million strong population lives in fortress cities atop these mountains, safe from the highly aggressive and mutated nightmares below. These cities are built around ancient gravity wells, keeping the oppressive and crushing natural gravity of Baalros at bay. Once, before the rise of Primarch Kaldun, hordes of Feral Ogryn roamed the frozen plains and would attack the fortresses fairly regularly. Now, nearly all of the Ogryn that exist on Baalros are tamed, and completely loyal to Kaldun and the Imperium. It had always been a haven for those who wanted to escape the galaxy’s notice, and where the powerful would send their criminals or other undesirables. This was no exception when the Age of Strife began, and psykers either fled the persecution they faced on their own planets and throughout human space, or were sent there by the more merciful planetary rulers, to hide their shame. When warp storms devastated the surrounding system, Baalros barely survived. It’s already harsh frozen lands were aggressively mutated by the storms, turning what were once merely inhospitable lands into hellscapes of mutants and monsters. The people fled to the mountains, building fortresses around the gravity wells ( that allowed the wardens of the prisoners to survive on the high gravity planet) to fight off the nightmares below. In the inevitable power struggles that followed, psykers would rise to be the ruling class. Of those, the only ones that survived were the ones who learned how to defend themselves from possession and master their powers.. They and their chosen followers established small kingdoms in the mountains, and would war with each other over resources and control within the gravity wells. By the time the warp storms had ended, Baalros had regressed back to the iron age with the Psyker King’s bloodlines still ruling with an iron fist and battling with each other for dominance. The reasoning for the teachings the Psyker King’s passed down to each other from generation to generation was forgotten, but never stopped, protecting them from the predators of the Warp even if they no longer even knew of the Warp. [b]Appearance: [/b]Kaldun stands at 12 feet tall, with golden hair, fair skin, and piercing golden eyes that are often shining with light. His most common attire is power armor that is similar to that of his Legion, shining gold with a black trim, the golden spear wreathed in flame that marks the heraldry of the Legion emblazoned on his chest. It was designed by his sister Eiosha, and is highly prized by him. On the rare occasion he is not in armor, Kaldun wears Astartes robes and a body glove. [b]Personality:[/b] Arrogant, self-righteous, proud, rowdy, and possessing a temper that is both quick to ignite and terrible to behold, Kaldun is akin to a force of nature. Weakness and self-doubt were the traits of the dead in Baalros, and it is a lesson that Kaldun keeps with him at all times, especially as a leader in the Great Crusade. There is no place in the Emperor’s plan for doubt, and any weakness must be crushed if Kaldun’s father’s plan is to be realized. He possesses little patience for the careful planning and plotting of some of his brothers or sisters, instead preferring to rush forward and claim his destiny, and the destiny of mankind. He is not rash, having learned his lesson from his father’s death, but he does not plan out his every move. After bringing his savage homeworld under his control and taming as much of it as possible, Kaldun has an unshakeable faith in himself and his path. If he has made a choice, he is certain it is the right one and there is nearly nothing that can dissuade him from it. While proud, Kaldun isn’t resistant to change. This is most readily apparent in his approach to psychic abilities, technology, and tactics of his enemies, even xenos. If it is a technique he can learn, a technology his legion can benefit from, or tactics he can put to use, he will do so. He takes a savage joy in all aspects of life, from the sorrows of defeat to the elations of victory. Kaldun is not suited for the more patient or delicate tasks. He is not the one who plans out great strategies, the logistics of war, or organizing a planet after it has been conquered. Kaldun chafes under what he views as the shackles of running an empire. He is a conqueror, not an administrator and leaves the intricacies to those far more suited than he is. [b]Skills: [/b] [b][u]Conqueror[/u][/b]: Kaldun is a master of battle. While this is true of all other Primarchs, Kaldun takes it to an obsessive level. At the expense of nearly all other skills, Kaldun has dedicated himself to the art of battle. Kaldun in particular has dedicated himself to combat in all its forms, and is a force of nature on the battlefield. He is at his best with the enemy before him and a weapon in his hand, leading the charge or dueling his opponent. While not as fast as Nelchitl or as brutally powerful as his brother Sarghaul he is one of the most dangerous Primarchs to face in combat. This obsession has cost him in all other areas Primarchs are skilled in. He cannot inspire his men through words like his brother Prometheus, organize a planet after conquest like his sister Eiosha, manipulate politics like his sister Sekhmetara, or be an impartial arbitrator like his sister Daena. He plans only as far as his next conquest. He has no patience for the years and decades of ruling afterwards. Kaldun is a Conqueror, and he [i]lives[/i] for the conquest. [b][u]Psyker King[/u][/b]: Kaldun is one of the most powerful Psykers in the Imperium, capable of both skills of impeccable finesse and terrifying raw power, and he doesn't shy away from using his powers. He was taught by his mortal father in Baalros that his powers are meant to be used to their fullest ability to establish his control and protect those under his charge, and Kaldun keeps those teachings with him. As such, Kaldun views his powers as a tool more than anything else, a weapon to be used against the Imperium's foes. He wields them as another weapon in his arsenal. A very powerful one, certainly, but nothing more than another tool of war. It matters little where these powers come from, so long as they function. This mentality, pressed upon him by Baalros and its focus on function and survival, has led him to mostly ignore the Warp. While he is aware of its existence and knows that it is where he draws his powers from, Kaldun spends little to no time actually looking into it the little bit that he can. So long as it keeps fueling his powers, he cares little for what it is and how it works. [b][u]Aura of Glory[/u][/b]: Part of what makes Kaldun so dangerous in combat is that the absolute confidence he has in his own victory combined with his immense psychic powers, has led to a large psychic aura emanating from him at all times. Those who fight with him that are in the aura feel their fears washed away, find themselves capable of going beyond what they thought their limits were, and find that they are more resistant to all forms of damage. Kaldun’s men fight harder, longer, and more fiercely while in his aura. At the center of this Aura, Kaldun himself is impervious to an immense amount of damage. Be it psychic, environmental, or physical, the aura stops most forms of harm from even reaching Kaldun’s form. So powerful is his confidence that he will win that it takes an enormous amount of effort to harm him. Unbeknownst to Kaldun and his allies, there is a significant drawback to this power. Should Kaldun’s confidence waver (such as if his men are dying around him, he is actually harmed and cannot respond, a tactical blunder on his part putting himself and his men into a bad position, or his own attacks being shrugged off) the aura shrinks. Weapons and attacks that normally would be stopped begin to actually hit Kaldun and, should his confidence go low enough, begin to harm him. If Kaldun’s confidence were to ever give into despair, the aura turns on himself and his allies. Where previously attacks would either do less harm or none at all, they begin doing more harm than they should. Fear and despair enters the hearts of himself and his men, and they feel the strength sapped from their limbs. For now, Kaldun remains unaware of this threat. No weapon can harm him, and his sons are blessed with more of his protection. It will undoubtedly shake him to his core should he discover that his gift can turn on him. To expand on his [b][u]Aura of Glory[/u][/b], it doesn't mean that Kaldun is impervious to damage, it means that it takes much more to damage him initially, and that as you continue damaging him it'll be more and more effective. He's not gonna be able to take a hit from another Primarch (or something similarly powerful) or an artillery strike and come out unharmed, but the initial damage won't be as much as it should've been. As it continues, the damage will get more and more effective until it's more effective than it should be. [b]Assignment Grade:[/b] Alpha. Kaldun has mastered all the known Imperial Disciplines with ease, instinctively picking up the skills as he was taught them (though, it should be noted that his definition of mastering divination is to study the skill long enough that he can lightly reach into the future in battle giving him supernatural instincts and reactions to attacks) and has a myriad of other powers that aren't defined to the Imperial Disciplines. An immensely powerful Psyker Kaldun is one of the strongest Psychics in the entirety of the Imperium. [b]Biography:[/b] When Kaldun crashed through his mortal father’s wall King Calan took this as a sign from the gods. The King had been praying for an heir, as he and his wife had been unsuccessfully trying for years, and then Kaldun appeared. A child with golden locks, wrapped in a strange shell. Calan claimed the child as his own, and began raising him as the next ruler of Shandar, the fortress city and what territory surrounded it. In six months Kaldun was as large as the tallest of teenagers. In a year, he was taller than all the warriors in Shandar. He had already surpassed the warriors in terms of physical strength and combat skill, showing a natural affinity for the art of war, and was rapidly beginning to exceed his father in terms of psychic power and skill. Another year passed and Kaldun gained more and more power and experience as he was taught the art of war by hunting the feral Ogryn and culling their numbers around Shandar. He was ready and raring for actual war, to test his might against foes who weren’t simply wild beasts. Soon, Kaldun got his wish and war reached Shandar. The fortress city’s most valuable mine had been seized by a rival, and Calan refused to let such a brazen act go unanswered; he sent a war party to the mine, with Kaldun in its ranks. They found the rival’s forces dug in, and descended upon them like the wrath of the heavens. Kaldun was a force of nature, roaring with laughter and savage glee as he tore through the enemy with blade and magic. They were destroyed within moments, and the mine reclaimed. Kaldun was more at home in battle than he had ever been in his father’s halls, and he was eager to return to it. His father declared war on the rival city, and Kaldun once more marched to war. Over the next few years he would engage in and lead his father’s forces to victory, fighting viciously in the mountains that were their homes. They pushed the enemy back to their own city, until the rival city sued for peace. Calan, despite Kaldun’s protestations, accepted the delegation into Shandar. Things were going well, with terms for peace that were exceedingly favorable being drawn up by Kaldun’s father, until one of the warriors defending the diplomat made a snide remark. Already balking at the idea of anything less than total victory, Kaldun leapt at the excuse for a fight and attacked. In the ensuing brawl, Kaldun's father was slain. The diplomat and his guards were dead, and peace was no longer an option. Ascending to the throne of Shandar the very next day, Kaldun would never forgive himself for failing to protect his father. His actions, of course, had been right. But he had launched too rashly, and it had cost him. He would control them better, hone them to a fine point. Neither did he forgive Shandar’s rival for starting the war in the first place. It was there that he focused the bulk of his rage upon, and the bulk of the rage of his people. Within a week, he had rallied his armies and marched to the rival city, demanding their surrender in return for mercy. Predictably, they refused. Kaldun and his army got their wish. After six months of brutal fighting, they cracked the city’s walls and conquered its populace. The leaders were executed, the citizens subjugated. Exulting in his victory, and gazing out from the walls Kaldun turned his thoughts to the rest of Baalros. It was a fractured world, filled with cities that fought each other as much as they fought the planet itself, weakening one another further and further. A world that needed to unite, that [i]he[/i] needed to unite. Unfortunately, as he gazed upon his weary troops and his newly conquered subjects, he realized that he would need better soldiers. As willing and brave as his troops were, they needed more rest and there were some who still wondered if he should lead them after indirectly causing his father’s death. Doubtlessly as well there would be braver people he conquered, who would refuse to fight for him. No, he needed powerful soldiers, who would be able to fight tirelessly and loyally. Who would not question. Kaldun’s eyes were drawn to movement in the distance. A lone feral Ogryn, investigating the noise of celebration. An idea blossomed in Kaldun’s mind, and he smiled. Ogryn could learn, he had seen that much himself. They could be tamed, even if it was only through respecting power. They were seemingly tireless, and utterly loyal to whatever passed as a leader of their chief. They would be perfect. His advisers called him mad. His warriors rankled at the idea of fighting beside the monsters they had culled for so long. But, as in all things, Kaldun had set his mind upon something and they could do nothing before his will. He would train an army of Ogryn to fight for him, to help him conquer Baalros. Nothing would stop him. It took a few years to gather enough to form a proper army. The hard part was capturing the Ogryns without killing them. Once they were captured it took a minimal amount of time to tame and then train them. It turned out they were sentient, if only in a limited way. Similar to dogs, they could be tamed. They could be trained, and were completely loyal and utterly fearless once they were. It was useless telling them to do much else beyond ‘charge and kill everyone who doesn’t look like us’, but Kaldun didn’t need them to do anything else. Equipped with his new army and his people’s loyalty, Kaldun marched forth to unite Baalros under the banner of Shandar. Decades passed. Many battles and wars were fought, friends were gained and lost in the haze of war, and still Kaldun inexorably expanded Shandar’s borders until all bent the knee to him. They were united, and the squabbling over resources was settled through negotiation rather than bloodshed. With Baalros firmly under his control, Kaldun turned his attention to expanding his control over the Ogryn. While there were now thousands completely loyal to him, there were still many more that fought and clawed as feral beasts in the wastes below. They needed to be tamed, to further secure his control over the empire. That task kept his attention for a few years, but eventually almost the entirety of the Ogryn population on Baalros would be tamed and civilized, being turned almost entirely to the grunt labor of Baalros and doing so happily. With the Ogryns tamed, Kaldun turned his attention to training Baalros’ small Psyker population for battle. While the vast majority of what few Psykers there were had been kings and queens, and their heirs, there were still a few that slipped between the cracks, however. Ones that needed to be trained and guided. To consolidate his power and ensure no other Psykers would try to rise up in rebellion with their powers, Kaldun set about setting up a training center that would help the Psykers control their powers and make them loyal to him. In time, that task too was finished and Kaldun became restless. He was not meant for governing, or statehood. He was meant for combat and conquest, for war and bloodshed. Without any goal before him that would grant him those things, he found life to be dull. That was when the Emperor arrived, and showed him his true purpose. [hider=The Meeting]: Kaldun stood upon the walls, gazing out over his kingdom. He was bored. Listless. He had conquered his enemies, forcing them to bend the knee. He had broken the Ogryn, taming them into his dim-witted but fiercely loyal army. He had crushed what few rebellions had arisen in an attempt to overthrow his glorious empire. There was nothing to do, no one worthy to fight. The mutants stayed in their frozen pits of hell, either unable or unwilling to ascend the mountains to fight them. The idea of managing his empire, settling disputes over resources and other petty squabbles disgusted him. So here he was, pacing along the walls of Shandar, like an Ogryn trapped in a cage. He wasn’t meant to be a ruler, least of all in peacetime. There were others in his Empire that were far more suited to the task than he was, he was merely lucky to have been adopted by his father. Try as he might, he could not bring himself to transition over to the trials of ruling during peacetime. Even the Ogryn could be retrained to do simple labor with little trouble. Their low intelligence was a boon, allowing them to happily go from warriors to laborers or farmers with no qualms. If only he could do the same. He was also unsettled. His instincts told him to be on guard, but for what? There were no more enemies to battle, no more monsters to slay. Nothing could challenge him, least of all in the center of his power. But still he was still tense. The air felt heavy, like the calm before a brutal storm. Something was coming, but he could not see what it was. “You’re not meant for this.” Kaldun whipped around, his short spear at the ready. Standing behind him on the wall was a man, covered in a grey hood. Kaldun had never seen him before, nor did he recognize his voice. But his instincts screamed at the sight of him. As seemingly human as this man was, Kaldun felt a great danger from him. “Who are you? And how did you get past the guards?” The man walked to the edge of the wall, ignoring Kaldun’s questions. “You’re a warrior. Designed for battle, for conquest. But now there is nothing for you to fight. No enemies for you to conquer. No challenges for you to face. It must chafe, knowing that you are now a weapon without purpose.” “Answer me! Who are-” Kaldun started to demand, only to be cut off by the man. The sheer authority and command in his voice silenced Kaldun. For the first time in a long time, Kaldun was cowed into silence. “I can give you purpose.” The man turned to look at Kaldun, and even though he could not see the man’s eyes, Kaldun felt them piercing into his soul. “All you have to do is kneel, and swear allegiance.” The incredulity of the demand broke the stupor the man’s gaze had brought upon him, and Kaldun roared with laughter. “Swear allegiance to you? You have guts, stranger! To walk up to the King of Baalros and demand he bend the knee! For your courage I will let you live, despite your arrogance. Leave now, while I am in a good mood.” Kaldun turned around, chuckling. “A duel then.” The man’s voice came again, challenging. “If you win, I’ll go. If I win, you kneel.” Kaldun turned around, smirking. This was the challenge he’d been waiting for. He sensed that this man was dangerous. Perhaps the most dangerous person he’d ever met. [i]This[/i] was what had been missing. The thrill of danger, the thrill of the fight. “I accept. I hope the journey here wasn’t too long of one.” The fight itself was pitifully short. As soon as Kaldun attacked, the Emperor revealed himself. Kaldun was blinded in a flash of golden light, his spear easily deflected by the Emperor’s blade. He lashed out with bio-lightning, only for that to be deflected as well. With one blow the Emperor swept Kaldun off of his feet and put him on the ground, blade at his throat. “You asked who I am? I am your father. The Emperor of mankind. You are my son, one of the Primarchs of man. I will give you the purpose you need. I will give you the battles and wars you thrive in.” Kaldun heard these words and knew them to be true, deep in his soul. “I kneel to you, my Emperor.” [/hider] It would be soon after that Kaldun would be introduced to his Legion. Once proud and powerful, the then named Terran Aegis had been brought low by attrition and mutations, only recently coming into their psychic powers. Kaldun took the 15th legion and reforged them. He taught them to control their powers, stabilizing the mutations. He changed their purpose from being the Imperium’s shield, to being its shining spear. The Golden Spears were born, leading the charge of conquest for the Imperium and for the Emperor. [/hider] [hider=Legion XV][b]Legion Name:[/b] The Golden Spears (Formerly: The Emperor’s Aegis) [b]Legion Number:[/b] XV [b]Legion Strength:[/b] -60,000 Astartes -Millions of Astartes Auxiliaries known as the ‘Baalrosi Golden Corp’ (Constantly reinforced from planets that the Spears conquered). Deploys a much higher amount of Ogryns and Xenos than other Imperial Regiments, and possesses Psyker Squads. [b]Armour Appearance:[/b] Shining Gold with Black Trim. Left shoulder pauldron is black. Legion Symbol is a golden spearhead wreathed in flame, on their left pauldron. [b]War-cry:[/b] “Imperial Spears! Imperial Might!” “Tip of the Spear! Edge of the Blade! Point of the Lance!” [b]Dramatis Personae:[/b] Chandrian: Captain of the First Company, Kaldun’s most trusted friend and adviser, first to volunteer for the Golden Spears’ Geneseed in Baalros. Terminator Librarian. Julach: Captain of the Second Company. Non-Psyker. Zarbiel: One of the first Dreadnoughts of the Spears. One of the few original Astartes from when the legion was first created. Psyker. Boamiel: High Lord of the ‘Baalrosi Golden Corp’. Galiar: Fleet Commander. [b]Favored Tactics/Battlefield Role:[/b] [i]”You were once the strong shield of the Imperium. You have been broken, but I will reforge those shattered pieces into a mighty weapon to pierce the heart of our enemies. You will be the tip of the spear in our Crusade.”[/i] - Primarch Kaldun, upon meeting his legion. The Golden Spears are a psyker legion, with a third of the Marines having psychic ability. A smaller legion than most, the Golden Spears rely heavily on their core of psykers and their elite skill for their conquests. Generally, these psykers are low level. They have slight premonition that allows them to strike and react seconds before their fellows, they are far more resilient and regenerate faster than their fellows, they can see signs and track better than their fellows, etc etc. These Astartes are often designated into squads and roles that best fit their capabilities. If you have split second premonitions that give you an edge in melee, you are put in an assault squad. If you have higher than normal strength for even an astartes, you are put in a devastator squad. So on, so forth. The Golden Spears possess a high amount of Librarians due to Astartes developing sufficient psychic capabilities at twice the rate of other legions. The Librarians of the Spears (known as Vanguards) are the cream of the crop and Kaldun’s prized warriors, each being trained in the same lessons and skills Kaldun himself possesses. Some Spears show an affinity for machines and controlling them. They are trained as Techpriests, and the Librarians among them use their powers to control the Guardian (guardians being the Spears own mechanical robots purposefully designed for such psychic manipulation. Not as quality as mechanicus units, but rugged and can take punishment) units of the Golden Spears. [url=https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Castellax-Achea_Class_Robot]Based off of these guys[/url] This is not to say that the rest of the Legion, possessing only mutations instead of powers, are cast to the side. Kaldun pushes them to the same level of martial excellence he expects of himself. They are an elite fighting force, capable of fighting in almost any environment and any situation. Often lacking the numerical advantage or support that their fellow Legions have, the Spears pride themselves on being able to defeat their enemies through superior skills at arms. Due to the Legion’s focus on psychic powers, all of the Golden Spears Terminators and Dreadnoughts are also the legion’s most powerful Librarians. Due to their small size, the Golden Spears are followed by the Baalrosi Golden Corp. The Corp uses its massive numbers to fight on all the planets in a system, while the Spears focus on the most difficult planets and defenses. The Corp allows the Spears to conquer efficiently. The Baalrosi Golden Corp is indifferent in its recruitment. If you can be trained, and will fight, they will have you. It doesn’t matter if you are a xenos, a mutant, or a human. All that matters is that you fight for Kaldun, the Golden Conqueror. As such, they are a more generalist Astarte Auxilia, with enough troops to tackle any challenge that approaches them. . [b]Legion Characteristics/Ideology:[/b] The Golden Spears are fully committed to the idea that they are Mankind’s protectors and champions, boisterously and vigilantly . They view the rest of mankind as children that need to be guided and protected, similar to how parents view small children. This patronizing manner, going into condescension may grate on nerves, but it comes from a place of genuine desire to see humanity improve and protect them. They are often seen establishing military camps and fortresses, securing a planet they have recently conquered from invasion and making the people there strong enough to fight for the Imperium and defend themselves. If the Legion finds Psykers among the populace, they take them under their wing, training them in both how to wield their powers and how to ensure their powers don’t destroy them (essentially protecting themselves from daemonic possession, but since they don’t know what daemons are, they just assume it’s the powers destroying them.) These Psykers are formed into battle squads and attached to the Baalrosi Golden Legion, to be used for the Imperium. [b]Geneseed Flaws[/b]: The Golden Spears suffer from two flaws. The first is that while their psychic powers are strong, this connection to the Warp results in minor mutations. Sharpened teeth. Pupils that are those of animals. Skin that can be a range of colors, along with eyes of a solid color, or eyes that glow. So on, so forth. The second is what is referred to as the Joyous Fury. At times, the Marines become filled with the elation of battle, reveling in massacring their enemies. This is marked by a mad laughter as the Marines engage in acts of needless and senseless barbarity, often leaving advantageous positions to bring themselves the joy of slaughter. [b]Relationships:[/b] Emperor: Kaldun and the Golden Spears are completely loyal to the Emperor. They obey any and all commands he has without question or hesitation. Imperial Army: The Imperial Army and the Golden Spears are on very good terms. While the way which the Spears tend to act around them can grate, it is all forgiven when the Golden Spears and their force fields block hundreds of rounds of incoming fire, their librarians shred tough enemy fortifications, or the apothecaries heal their wounded. Mechanicum: The Golden Spears are on good terms with the tech-priests. Xenos: For the most part, as long as the Xenos aren't a threat to mankind, the Spears attempt to enact the Edict of Tolerance. Not because they believe Xenos are equal or deserve protection, but because they believe that Xenos are better put to use serving humanity and the Imperium than they are exterminated at will. They do not hate Xenos, but certainly look down upon them as lesser. Other Space Marine Legions (to be expanded upon): [/hider]