Name:Maximus (Caesar) Aurelius
Gender:Male
Homeworld:Roma
A Feudal world with a temperate climate that supports many farmers and mines extracting materials and food to be exported to the nearby forge world. It was ruled by three great houses that are constantly at war with each other over territory and their precious honor, until the planet was inducted into the Imperium it was also plagued by an infestation of feral Orks.
Appearance:Outside of his titan Maximus is 10ft tall, he is broadly built as most other Primarchs but with a faintly olive tanned skin. He has a very short buzzed hair and pale blue eyes.
Outside of combat Maximus wears a simple robe, much like a monk would wear.
Armament – modified Crusader Knight Titan
The Knight is built larger and stronger than other Crusader pattern Titans giving it additional bulk to accommodate the Primarch’s size and heavier weapons.
Left arm - Plasma blast gun
Right arm - Vulcan Mega Bolter
Chest mount – Meltagun
Back mount – twin-linked heavy bolter
Master-craft Terminator armor
In the Terminator armor he dual wields rotary autocannons
Personality: Maximus is an ally to all, he and his legion take their role as servants of the Imperium very seriously. He endeavors with every fiber of his being to grow the Imperium and make it greater, the only way to peace is to spread the Imperium to the edges of the galaxy. Once the Emperor rules all, peace will reign. He also tries to closely ally himself with his siblings and lend them his might to make them both greater opponents on the battlefield and grow the Imperium with their victory.
He is also very fond of the Imperial Guard and often fights with them combining the massive vehicle force of the Guard and the heavy weapons of his legion into an unstoppable wave of firepower.
Skills:Psyker level: Grade Sigma- Minor level blank, would be somewhat resistant to psyker abilities.
The first obvious skill that Maximus has is his ability in a Crusader class Knight Titan, the titan is less a vehicle than an extension of his own body. He is an expert in piloting the massive machine, even to the point that he would be a serious threat even to titans greater than his own.
He is an expert in heavy weapons dual wielding rotary autocannons when not in his Titan but is more than able to use all heavy weapons that he can carry, such as Las-cannons, Multi-Meltas, etc.
Maximus is also a master tactician, just like his brothers and sisters. He excels when confronted with a fortress to attack or a point to be defended. He quickly understands the weaknesses of a fortress and how best to exploit such weakness, by extension this lends itself to fortification giving him knowledge on how his defense could be bolstered.
Biography:Maximus landed in the field of a farm which was a fief owned by a minor lord, when the lord learned of this he adopted the child as his own. The lord, Gaius Caesar, thought that the child was fortune favoring him as his wife could not give him an heir. Maximus grew quickly and had taken an early interest in his adoptive father’s knight titan and the state of the world he was living on. Gaius was not a lord that fit in with the feudal world he was living on. Gaius worked tirelessly to unite the great houses, Julii, Scipii, and Brutii under one banner and defeat the feral Orks once and for all. This left an impression on the young Maximus, to unite the world.
Maximus’ father began to understand his child very quickly, he learned that the child was to grow faster and likely far larger than the average man. In addition to his rapid growth Maximus had an insatiable thirst for knowledge about warfare which his father accommodated as best he could. Maximus received training from the best tutors that could be hired eventually receiving training on how to operate a knight titan at the age of 12.
When Maximus had finally stopped growing Gaius scrounged all the money available in his lands, even selling several fiefs, to purchase a knight titan worthy of his son who had grown into a god among men, but was too large to fit into any Knight built for mere mortals. He requisitioned the Knight from the local forge world and payed to have it delivered as quickly as possible. He was making these arrangements because the Orks had begun a major offensive and had destroyed several minor houses.
Over the next several years Maximus would train in the use of a knight titan and learn about governance and state craft. While Maximus was learning the finer details of diplomacy the three great houses called up their respective armies which his father would have to join. The great houses where waging a war with the Orks to drive them back into their traditional lands and let the Ork problem fester on their borders. During the war Gaius was killed by a swarm of Orks dragging his Titan down and tearing it apart.
The Grief stricken Maximus became a lord in one stroke, but it fortified his resolve to carry out his father’s dream. The day the knight titan his father had purchased arrived he climbed into it and truly became a Knight. His soul boded with the machine spirit and he felt the might of the titan and its desire to destroy his enemies. Though the titan was truly powerful in its own right, he could never conquer the planet alone.
Maximus began to beseech other minor lords, those who were at the beck and call of the great houses and began to garner their support. Slowly, lord by lord, he built the House of Caesar. Eventually he gained the attention of the great houses who were becoming uncomfortable with Maximus’ ever growing might and Knight Legion. He reached a point that he could no longer siphon minor lords to his cause and had to either unite the houses diplomatically or go to war.
Unfortunately the houses where resilient in their denial, Maximus organized his small but mighty legion of titans and went to war with the most powerful of the great houses. House Brutii brought to bear many more knights that Maximus had, but theirs where not united in purpose. When the two clashed in battle is was a bloody melee that went on for hours. Maximus’ Titan was an ideal titan killer, equipped with a Plasma Blast Gun and a Vulcan Mega bolter he could bring down several titans before the battle was truly underway. He kept up the bombardment during the battle punishing any enemy who came into range or was exposed with deadly blasts of plasma or a hail of bullets. When the house was finally defeated, only a few of the Caesar titans were destroyed when almost a dozen enemy titans lay smoking in the field.
Once the House Brutii capitulated the other two houses listened to Maximus’ proposals much more carefully. When they began to see the prowess of Maximus’ leadership both on the battlefield and at the diplomacy table, they began to agree with him. Eventually the houses formed a Republic, forming the first senate that had each lord represented equally regardless of wealth or the number of fiefs it owned. At the formation of the senate the houses where dissolved letting each lord be independent from kings or houses.
The Orks came again after the formation of the senate, they came in greater numbers than ever before coming from their territory as an endless stream of Orks crushing any lord in their path. The senate pleaded for Maximus to tell them what to do, become king and protect them from the Orks. Maximus however refused and offered a different possibility, He would be appointed the supreme commander of the planetary forces under the title Caesar but he would hold no more power in the senate than he always had.
When this was done Maximus took the field in his massive Crusader class Titan and his small legion of others and began to beat back the Orks. Nothing the Orks had could remotely compare to the might of a Knight, their “Killa Kans” where no match for a bolt of plasma from a titan gun or a reaper chain sword. However when Maximus had finally blasted the Orks into their homeland, he carried the siege on. For days the titans would blast the Ork stronghold with any weapons they had. When Maximus was satisfied that there would be nothing left but cleaning up the few survivors of his barrage the titans stormed the Ork Citadel, and Maximus was wrong. There seemed to be no less Orks than there ever have been, hundreds of thousands poured from the Citadel to attack the titans in swarms that could not simply be gunned down.
During the fight, the Emperor of Mankind arrived on planet and began an orbital bombardment of the citadel and unleashed the full force of the Wild Blades Legion with their Primarch at the head. With the combined might of what few titans where left and the Astartes Legions under the Emperor’s guidance the battle was swiftly won with the Wild Blades hunting the last of the Orks and putting them to the sword. After this Maximus would take his true place as Primarch of the XXVII Legion, that became known as the Paladins Eternal.
He would take the surviving 15 titans of the Ork Siege with him when he joined the Grim Crusade. Each of the 10 Cohorts (Company) have a Knight Errant Titan at its head. The final 5 Titans are piloted by Maximus and his personal bodyguard.
The Meeting: Maximus looked at the scanner Asupex still showing nothing but a cloud of hostile Orks. He fired his Plasma cannon into a horde of charging Orks and there would be nothing but a smoldering crater where the mob once stood, but it would be filled in again just as quickly as the gun could be fired. With his other arm he sprayed a hail of bullets from the Vulcan mega-bolter that slaughtered dozens of Orks a second. The line of Titans was collapsing each slowly being dragged down and torn to pieces one at a time, and there seemed to be no less Orks than when the battle started hours ago.
”Keep firing brothers! For Roma! Our Victory is assured!” yelled Maximus into his Vox for the fifth or sixth time today, though as the battle progressed the words began to feel hollow and dishonest. As the realization that he and every other Knight with him where going to die began to pass over his thoughts a blast of energy coming from the heavens demolished a huge swathe of the horde, then another, and another. The blasts came like clockwork finding the most densely packed part of the horde and destroying it, shortly after the bombardment started his Auspex began tracking dozens of objects coming from orbit, Gunships and drop pods bringing in a vast legion of soldiers clad in green, several dropships flew over the Knights dropping dozens of soldiers with jetpacks.
(within the dropships)
“2nd Company! Get ready to drop! The Orks are already bloodied, no need for fancy plans, Purge them all!” The
Namer of the Dead called out to the assembled Marines. The warriors howled and thumped their chests, each standing against the bay walls of the Stormbird, winged Jumpacks primed and ready as the craft dove fast and hard towards the ground.
Erron smiled, his head bare, long black hair braided with feathers and small bits of bone. He had decided to accompany his 2nd on his mission, flying with the airborne specialized Marines. Named for the infamous Avarok of Varnis, the 2nd Company of the Wild Blades was made up entirely of Jumpack Marines, and dealt death from above like the avian beast of their namesake. Grinning a predators grin at the
Namer of the Dead, Erron nodded and drew his curved sword and knife, their edges flickering to life as his honor guard drew their own massive power blades.
“Well said! Today is a day for glory! Today we fly with the Emperor himself!” Erron called out to the Marines, who gave a collective roar at the name and beat the floor with their armored boots. The bay doors at the back of the huge craft opened, the air sucking out of the ship as Erron stepped toward the edge, his massive golden and deep green wings unfurling from his personal Jumpack, the Marines assembling behind him.
“Glory to the Tenth!” he cried, his sons returning the call with the customary
“Death Rides on Swift Wings!” as he dove.
Falling headfirst from the craft, his hair flying out behind him, he streamlined his body as he left the ship. His sons whooped as they followed behind him as the Stormbird delivered its cargo high above the battlefield. Below him, Erron’s enhanced eyes could see green hordes of feral Orks being smashed apart by the orbital bombardment from space, as well as the huge mechanical walkers that belonged to the humans his Legion was here to assist. More Stormbirds dropped the remainder of the
Avaroks around him, while others loaded with the other Companies dipped lower to deliver the Marines directly onto the ground. His face was stricken with a permanent smile, his
Apexa Predatoris falling in formation with him, silent behind their helmets. Strafing Fire Raptor gunships cut huge lines in the alien’s formations, opening holes for Stormbirds to land and the green, red, and gold clad Wild Blades running out, bolters barking. Squadrons of bikes rode in V formations as they exited the landing craft, cutting down Orks with a hail of gunfire and slashing swords. Erron could hear the battle cries of his Legion, even from hundreds of feet above, and he used his wings to change course, heading for a pocket of resistance close to the huge battle-walkers.
With a primal roar, he flipped till he was feet first and fired his thruster, slowing his descent just before impact, smashing into the ground with a shock that would have pulverized a mortal being. The Orks staggered at the impact, too stupid to look up in the confusion of combat to see the airborne Marines as they fell upon the horde. Without breaking stride Erron was among them, both of his blades whirling in a deadly blur, slashing and cutting with wild abandon. There were so many of them he didn’t have to pick his targets, every cut finding flesh and parting bone. These beasts were primal creatures, their armor crude, and they died screaming upon their swords. His guards formed around him, and in a circle the five fought, back to back, their swords flinging fresh blood into the air with ever stroke.
“Leave none alive! Purge them from this planet and let them know the wrath of the Wild Blades! ” Erron roared in the glory of combat, his Legionaries hollering their approval, each painted with tribal markings that were now smeared with gore.
The battle was turning quickly, with the Orks unable to stand against the combined might of his Legion and the massive machines. As soon as the creatures saw that their own kind were being surrounded by the new arrivals, many of them turned and ran. The more that ran, the more cowardly the others got, until the green tide was in full rout. Erron slashed the throat of a beast that charged him, using the momentum to spin his body and deliver a killing stroke with his knife into the temple of an Ork that was still struggling against the huge sword carving his stomach. His body guard kicked the dead alien off, smashed the pummel into another face, and drove his armored heel down on the dazed Orks neck with a sickening crunch as it fell. Erron looked out onto the field, seeing his sons chasing down the fleeing Orks.
“Ballor,” Erron spoke into the vox attached to the collar of his armor, addressing the Thane of his veteran 1st Company.
“Chief,” came the gruff reply, awaiting orders. “It’s time for your men to share in the glory,” Erron said with a smile, pausing to watch the distant ridge-line of forested hills that the Orks were making to, believing to lose themselves in the cover. Within a few minutes, fire filled the sky and the hills exploded as the Drop Pods from Legion ships smashed into the earth, directly in the Orks line of retreat. The doors opened and the Orks were greeted with a withering hail of gunfire as the Dreadnoughts and Terminators within bellowed their challenge and charged. The
Gorgoths , the first and most heavily armed of his children, stepped forward in unrelenting advance and fury like the massive creature whose totem adorned their armor.
Erron spread his arms wide, mechanical wings spreading out behind him and he tilted his head back, roaring in triumph as all around him his Legionaries lifted their swords, shaking them in the air with cries of victory. He then turned, wings closing behind his back. Facing the Great War Titans, he stepped forward to them as his honor guard followed; the rest of his Legion beginning to cut the ears and tusks from the slain for trophies.
“Cease fire!” yelled Maximus into the vox of his Knight. He didn’t want the devastating firepower of his titans to kill any of his saviors. He watched the blazing speed of the warriors hunting down and slaughtering the Orks to the last. Maximus ordered his titans to begin firing on the retreating Orks and not to allow them to escape, they began to unleash a hellish torrent of fire at the same time pods carrying dreadnaughts and Terminators fell from the sky right into the Ork line of retreat, their awesome combined firepower butchering them with no chance of escape.
When the cry of victory echoed throughout the forest Maximus opened his Knight and stepped out to greet the group following him. He was exhausted from the battle and climbed down from the Knight with an unusual stiffness that he was unaccustomed to. He was concerned with the state of his surviving troops, if he was this tired then each of his Knights would be nearly unconscious at the controls now that the adrenaline was wearing off. He finally reached the ground and noticed the obvious leader approaching him. There were several similarities between Maximus and this lord, it was not as though he was looking into a mirror but at a face he had once known like a brother or long lost friend. Maximus dismissed this as a silly thought strode up to meet the leader, just before speaking a massive ship darted by overhead that was plated in gold and obviously built for a King, or God. The ship picked a spot nearby and began to slowly drift to the ground, Maximus ignored it more interested in the warrior lord before him.
“My thanks! I am Maximus Aurelius, Caesar of the Knights of Rome, who are you?” Erron reached out, grasping the man’s armored wrist with his gauntleted hand, looking him in the eye with a smile.
“Erron Khaal, Primarch of the Wild Blades,” he replied, noticing the similar features in the man’s face, and the fact that he was the only one here who matched him in size. Yes, this was the one his father had said he would find, another of his lost brothers returned. His smile grew, and he kept his hold on the man’s arm. He had met several of his siblings already, but this was the first time his father had requested he join him in reuniting one. He felt a strong sense of kinship with Maximus already, though he knew nothing of him. Before the man could speak, Erron continued,
“And I am a child of the Emperor of Mankind, sent here to assist in the reclaiming of another of his lost children,” he paused, letting his words sink in, checking Maximus’s face for any signs of recognition before he spoke one final word,
“brother…”Maximus grasped the man’s arm back and listening to the brief introduction, ‘Primarch of the Wild Blades, to be sure. These warriors are fierce and fearless.’ Thought Maximus though he had never heard of this Emperor, but the mention of lost children intrigued him. Maximus knew that he was adopted and had always felt somewhat out of place among even the mightiest of lords on this planet. ‘Could it be possible’ thought Maximus almost in disbelief that he was also a child of this Emperor, and had siblings.
The confusion was obvious on Maximus’ face, Erron smiled ever wider at the amusement of his brother’s confusion. Somehow it felt right, instinctively he knew that Erron was his brother and was not lying to him about the Emperor coming to reclaim him.
“What happens now?” says Maximus wondering if the fate of all the Emperor’s children where to become gods of war.
Erron laughs and replies,
“Well Maximus, I suspect that the Emperor will be coming to talk to you soon, about what will depend on you I am sure. He will offer for you to join his Grim Crusade across the stars and a Legion of warriors much like mine. Thus you will ascend to the title of Primarch and you will conquer the stars with your brother and sister Primarchs.” Maximus opens his mouth to ask a question, likely something about the title Primarch or the Grim Crusade, but Erron replies even before the question is asked.
“Talk with The Emperor, he will make everything clear.” As Erron finished his sentence the golden dropship opens and the Emperor of Man steps from the ship in his golden terminator armor that illuminated the blood soaked battlefield in a golden glow, Maximus didn’t even have to ask if this was the Emperor of Man. He could feel that it was simply the case, bypassing any logical portion of his mind he knew it to be true. As he strode up to meet the pair he casually inspected the chaos that was wrought on the battlefield, with a tiny hint of a smile on his face as though he was had won a minor wager. As the Emperor neared the pair Erron bowed to his father, Maximus merely saluted him by bringing his fist over his heart.
The Emperor spoke in a commanding voice, not as though he was trying to be heard but when he spoke the very planet seemed to stop and pay attention.
“Well done my son” he says to Erron
“Thank you father, Allow me to introduce your son, Maximus.” The Emperor turns a knowing gaze to Maximus
”Yes,” while putting a massive arm around him
“come my son, we have a great deal to discuss.” The two wandered for hours followed distantly by the Emperor’s guard, all the while discussing the Imperium and what would become of maximus. The Emperor answered all of Maximus’ questions, during the walk the pair passed a small village near a minor lord’s castle. The Emperor paused when he began to observe the village and took notice of the people. A Knight Titan that seemed to be damaged and incapable of being in the battle with the Orks was at the edge of the forest cutting down trees with its chain sword. Seeing this the Emperor came to a realization that made him laugh loudly.
“Maximus” , the Emperor said still chuckling
“We have talked about my Imperium and your future for hours, but we have said nothing about your world. I see a great engine of war doing labor, cutting down trees for his servants. Tell me why?” Maximus mulled over the question briefly before replying
“It’s simple really, we knights are servants to the people, their protectors. That service extends beyond war, even a damaged Knight like that one can do more work in an hour than most towns could in a day.” “But does that not impede their training and battle readiness?” Maximus was baffled by the implication, surely warriors are not mindless machines of war. When in peace warriors can maintain their training and still have enough time to serve their people by building or harvesting with the peasants. He knew this ideal was unpopular when the planet was united but the senate, comprised of both lords and peasants alike, agreed that knights should help their people.
“Not at all father, a warrior must do things other than train and maintain his equipment. He would be a great warrior without doubt but to what end? If a warrior spent an hour or two a week aiding his people, then he would not only have time enough to ensure that he is a great warrior but also make his people prosperous.” The Emperor nodded, Maximus was right, however the Astartes where not made to be servants such as this. The Astartes where made to be war made manifest, however a legion that helped the people above and beyond the call of war would aid in earning the respect and admiration of the people.
“Of course my son, well said. Now, I must ask you. How did you come to rule this world?” “I don’t, the title Caesar is a military one, commander of the Knights and local forces.” The Emperor studied Maximus for a long time, even to the point that he became uneasy. Maximus was unsure at what the Emperor was thinking, he felt that his answer was unsatisfactory in some way. The Emperor did not give any indication as to his feelings and seemed to be waiting for farther explanation.
“I united the planet under one banner some years ago, but I formed a senate to rule. Comprised of both lords and commoners, it was a dream that m fath- adopted father had. When I was a child he worked ceaselessly to accomplish that goal, when it was in my grasp I accomplished what he could not.” The Emperor nodded in understanding, and took Maximus to the golden transport ship to be united with the IIIXX legion.
Honor Guard: When on the battlefield Maximus has a personal bodyguard of 4 Knight Titans.
Two Paladins and two Castigator
