Cardinal Pyris Valcarna

Titles: Master of the Five Temples of Tephaine
Seat of Power: Tephaine
Arch-Diocese: Adrantis Sub-Sector
Very young for a Cardinal at a mere 80 years, Pyris Valcarna was
once a luminary of the Tranchian Valcarna Noble House; gifted
to the church as part of their contracts of accord for training
and service to the God-Emperor. Though always assured a
position of importance within the Ministorum by way of his
birth, he surprised both his family and his peers by proving
an adept administrator and canny judge of political tides.
With these qualities and the favor of Ignato, he rose quickly
to gain eventually the mantle of Cardinal and command of
the Adrantian Diocese. However, this swift rise to power and
his close connection with the Arch-Cardinal have earned him
many enemies within the Sector Synod and many of the other
Cardinals, especially Kregory Hestor, who see Pyris as little more
than Ignato’s dog. For his part, however, Pyris is a competent
and capable leader and has done much to spread the faith within
his diocese and combat the spread of heresy and corruption.
Pyris has his seat on the hive world of Tephaine in the populous
Tephaine System. Though it is traditional for a Cardinal to hold
his office from the world of his birth (or at least the world on
which he held office for the Ministorum before his appointment
to the Synod) Pyris chose not to, given his home world’s current
strife. In fact the civil war on Tranch is an ongoing concern for
Pyris (though it has little impact on the well-being of the sector)
and he continues to try and use his influence to bring about a
lasting peace. However, he must tread lightly in such matters lest
the Administratum and other Imperial or system authorities see
his actions as favoring one organization or the another with the
power of the Ministorum---a situation that if it were to get out of
hand might have far reaching and disastrous consequences, such
a weakening of church influence across the sub-sector.
Apart from his focus on Tranch, Pyris’s other major concern
for his diocese is the activities of Magos Genetus Halix Redole.
Though tension between the Ministorum and the Adeptus Mechanicus is far from unusual, Pyris is concerned that Redole’s
research and investigations into the Adranti (a civilization
rumored to have once covered much of the sub-sector) may lead
to the unearthing of things best left buried. Currently Pyris is
limited in his efforts to restrict or stop the activities of the Magos,
given the Mechanicus’ position outside the boundaries of the
faith. He is however quietly gathering information (in league with
agents of the Ordo Hereticus), and knows he will have Ignato’s
support to act should he uncover the slightest taint of heresy.