Black Stars

Black Stars armorial with Legion iconography

Black Stars Veteran Marine

### Noteworthy Domains

Kingdom of Skandra, Skandra Prima (Homeworld and Legion headquarters), Antire (Legion-aligned Forge-World, armoury), Riudal (legion training grounds), Talanis (fleet base)

### Observed Strategic Tendencies

General Warfare Shock Assaults , Tactical Preparation and Complex Strategic Planning in Extremis, Decapitation Strikes

### Unique Organisations

Ochranic Cavaliers, Boetar Squads, Gaistar Escadrille, Valkten Chosen Terminators

### Colours

Yellow and Black

*"...When you observe them from the outside, it is easy to find yourself blinded by their glamour. The perfect legion, crusaders bathed in light, adored by all. But take a closer look, and their façade will come apart, revealing the truth; that in their core, they are indeed the darkest of stars."*

- Last entry of Lazar Polovich, Remembrancer attached to the IIIrd Legion, before his disappearance

The brightest light casts the darkest shadows. An old Terran saying that perfectly fits the IIIrd Legion. Spurred by their gene-sire's obsessive urge to prove himself superior to his older brothers, the **Black Stars** amassed a tally of accolades matched by few of their peers and were known as one of the Imperium's most illustrious defenders. This honour, though, came at the cost of their reputation within the Legiones Astartes, their bonds of brotherhood and, perhaps, their sanity.

## **Origins**

### **Violent Beginnings**

While the Emperor of Mankind waged his bloody Unification Wars on the anarchic wastes of Terran past, leading the transhuman warrior of Legios Custodes and Cataegis against the brutal and terrible hordes of the ruthless techno-barbarians who held the planet in their clutches, he plotted the creation of a novel caste of warriors, similar to the Thunder Warriors but also worlds apart. These enhanced troops would not be rampaging warriors plagued by instability of both mind and body like their predecessors, but a force of disciplined genehanced soldiers dedicated to the advancement of Mankind. These Astartes, or Space Marines, as they would come to be known, began their long and eventful story in the Emperor's gene labs. Using a streamlined process that allowed the mass production of hundreds of soldiers, He drew his first recruits from the adolescent males of subjugated populations, separated from their families and given a greater purpose in life.

For the creation of the IIIrd Legio Astartes, the Emperor funnelled children from the nomadic raiders of the Caucasus Wastes, hardened folk that were no stranger to battle and death, and thus would serve as a fine recruitment base for his fledgling army. The first batches of aspirants were successfully implanted and grown into true Astartes warriors, providing the Emperor with ample encouragement for the success of the IIIrd. What good omens had been, however, were proven false when the Legion was first put to the test; displaying a marked increase in aggression and disobedience in comparison to their brethren, the IIIrds would frequently run rampant during their deployments, resulting in unnecessary casualties and losses of innocent lives. While the Emperor deemed these casualties acceptable, he could not ignore the increasingly failing discipline of the IIIrd, whose chain of command was becoming ever more unstable due to its emphasis on combat prowess and strength of body rather than strategic and command skills. By the time Terra had been fully conquered and the Emperor's armies were ready to embark on the Great Crusade, the Marauders, an unofficial name the IIIrd Legion had chosen for themselves, had been reduced into several bands of raiders led by warlords, working together only due to necessity and shared interests, deployed only against targets of little worth, such as xenos or corrupted human enclaves, where the barbaric tendencies of the IIIrd would not harm Mankind's interests. Alas, as the Crusade progressed the Marauders would descend into greater acts of violence and ruthlessness, often completely disregarding innocents or allies in their rampages. It was then decided that the Marauders would be placed under the command of Primarch Rang Talyc, and would serve alongside his Shadow Warriors until their own Primogenitor had been discovered. For a while, Rang Talyc seemed to have tempered and controlled the wilder impulses of the Marauders. This was only a temporary respite however, and upon the world of Castrina the Marauders openly disobeyed the direct orders of Rang, abandoning their posts and leaving the Shadow Warriors vulnerable to enemy flanking manoeuvres only to attack a number of defenceless cities, slaughtering the inhabitants and pillaging their homes. Appalled by their actions, Rang reported this event directly to his Father, who then decreed that the feral Marauders would be censured. The story of the IIIrd would have come to an ignoble end had their Primarch, Absalom Vaughn, not been discovered just weeks later.

### **Dawn of the Dark Sun**

Deep in the eastern reaches of Segmentum Ultima lies a kingdom, small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but thriving nonetheless, yet another haven of humanity in a hostile galaxy. Skandra, as the kingdom was called, was composed of three worlds, united millennia ago by the First King, a mythological figure worshipped by the populace. First among those worlds is Skandra Prima, capital of the kingdom and the seat of power for the royal line. A planet of remarkable natural beauty and plentiful resources, its overall mild climate and fertile soil lent themselves to the development of a stable agricultural system that allowed the first settlers to survive and thrive. Now, thousands of years later, the natives live in plenty, enjoying a booming economy based on a rapidly growing industry, strong commerce, as well as the support of the kingdom's other worlds, such as Liva-Sar, with its bountiful crop yields or Talanis, the industrial powerhouse and foremost producer of spacecrafts.

Ruling over this diminutive utopia is the royal house of Vaughn, who trace their lineage to the First King of legends, peacemaker and bringer of unity. The line of succession, strictly hereditary in nature, has stood unbroken for all of recorded history, its last member being king Roland Vaughn, renowned and loved for his compassionate, wise and effective reign.

Peace had blessed Skandra for as long as its people could remember. However, all things come to an end, and so this peace would not be everlasting. The herald of its passing would be a curious celestial object that pierced Skandra's atmosphere in an otherwise uneventful summer night; a shooting star that landed on the dense pine forests of mount Keuwberg. As expected, it did not take long for this event to captivate the minds of Skandrans, with many believing it to be an omen of great fortune for the world, in accordance with ancient superstition. A scant two days later, a team of mountaineers, no longer able to contain their burning curiosity, set out for the impact site, and when they had finally approached, witnessing the object with their own eyes, they came to a astounding realisation; this was no mere comet or other piece of cosmic debris, but a shuttle of sorts, its baroque ornaments not resembling anything they were familiar with. Before the search party had a chance to rationalise the spectacle before them, the pod's doors opened, the chromed metal sheets sliding away to reveal the mess of cables and instruments inside. And there, lying in a compartment resembling a toddler's crib, was a human child, no older than four years of age, seemingly unharmed by the impact, and staring at them with eyes of gleaming amber, home to sparks of curiosity and intelligence that defied its tender age. Taking a precious few moments to regard the persons before it and assess whether they posed a threat, the child climbed out of the crib and took its first, unsteady, steps towards the outside world. It was then that the men saw the child to be a boy of superb beauty, possessed of an otherworldly air that captivated and unnerved the men alike.

At a loss about their course of action, the search party decided to bring the child to Ennisgal, the capital, and to King Roland himself. And so they did, and three days later the boy stood in the throne room, surrounded by nobles and politicians who made no effort to contain their marvel. More than anyone, however, King Roland was astonished by this mysterious visitor from the stars until, eventually, he decided to adopt the child into his family as his son. Thus, the star child was inducted into the House of Vaughn as Roland's adopted son, along with his sons Lares and Frans. Given the name Absalom he was now a prince of Skandra.

Young Absalom's growth defied the expectation of his family and close circles; in merely two years he was approaching adolescence, and was absorbing the teachings delivered to him at a prodigious rate, his intellect rivaling the brightest minds of the Kingdom, who had been brought in as his tutors. A handful more years passed, and Absalom, as an adult, had not only mastered topics such as science, literature or politics, but now stood a giant that towered over his peers, boasting physical capabilities well beyond that of common humanity. His sharp wit, supernal charisma and cunning made him an ideal politician, and those who foresaw a bright career in the parliament were many. Others, aware of the gifted strategic acumen that was believed to have been ingrained to his mind and had been sharpened during his studies at the Skandran military academy, saw in him a grand marshal that would lead their armies to never before seen glories and would conquer the stars in the name of Vaughn. All those expectations would one day be realised, as Absalom would lead Skandra to the peak of its eminence.

Proud of his adopted son, Roland Vaughn had been a doting father throughout Absalom's life, always praising him for his achievements while also providing guidance and counsel meant to shape him into an ethical, responsible person and leader. When Absalom finally came of age, the king did not hesitate to place him as supreme commander of the Skandran Army, a position Absalom accepted with gratitude. He believed this to be a token of trust from his father, a sign that one day, when old age had made the king incapable to rule, Absalom would be his chosen successor. Thus, he patiently fulfilled his duties as head of the kingdom's armies, ensuring that they were always prepared to defend their homeland should danger ever rear its head. Simultaneously, Absalom had not neglected his political work, and was actively involved in public matters, maintaining an ever-expanding network of connections as well as a strong following among his people.

The years passed, however, and as King Roland grew older and frailer, terrible news reached Absalom; for all his graces and gifts, he would not succeed his father on the throne. As ancient laws dictate, kingship is passed on to the eldest son. Thus, when the king passed, Absalom's older brother, Lares, would be crowned in his place.

To Absalom, this seemed unacceptable, an injustice of unfathomable proportions. For who else could match his skills, who else could rival him? Only he could bring Skandra to its true potential, raise it up as the ruler of the galaxy it deserved to be. Though he loved his father and cared for his brothers, he was fully aware of their different natures, of his effortless superiority. Destiny had sent him to this world for a reason, and by appointing Lares as his successor, Roland was challenging destiny itself.

In actuality, both Lares and Frans were skilled in their own right. Though the very thought of matching his adopted brother would be preposterous, given time to cultivate their aptitudes and expand their abilities they would both make for adequate leaders. Absalom however, gifted as he was with divine skills that mortal minds could hardly grasp, could not help but judge them based on his own exorbitant standards. Thus it should come as no surprise that he found them lacking the necessary traits of a king.

This decision of Roland's caused a rift in the relationship of Absalom and his family; he spent ever less time in the palace, instead moving permanently to his own estate, and he withdrew from the public eye, choosing instead to ponder in solitude for a way to change his father's mind. And then, as he was reaching his wit's end, he came across a most unexpected solution;

War was coming to Skandra.

For the most part of recent history, two planets have stood in open opposition to Skandra; Antire and Fyressy. Antire, a warmongering, militaristic world ruled by an authoritarian regime, had been the kingdom's nemesis for generations, however they had remained quiet since the begrudging peace treaty signed after the last war, a war which Antire lost. Public sentiment towards Skandra was negative to the extreme, and it seemed that the hatred that poisoned the Antirans' hearts had reached a boiling point. Fyressy, on the other hand, had kept a more neutral stance to the conflict, content to supply Antire with weapons and necessary supplies with hopes of economic benefits in case of Skandra's defeat. The status quo, however, had changed following Antire's recent invasion and subsequent occupation of Fyressy. Using the subjugated world's resources and population for the war effort, Antire was planning a surprise offensive against Skandra. An offensive about which the Skandran military had been informed thanks to intercepted communications.

Absalom, being the commander of the army, found out about the offensive soon afterwards, and an insidious plan started to formulate in a mind poisoned by envy and wounded honour; by timely warning the public about the invasion he could give them a precious opportunity to prepare, mitigating the loss of innocent lives. By withholding this information, however, he could prepare in absolute secrecy, use these circumstances to solve his problems. Remove the obstacles, his brothers, from his path, and ascend to his rightful position as King of Skandra.

Two years passed. King Roland, ailing with illness and old age, had bequeathed his throne to Lares and withdrawn to his chateau, while Absalom, with his soldiers boasting superb training and armaments, his defences bolstered and poised to crush the enemy's attacks, bade his time. This would be his finest hour.

What followed was a tragedy, as squads of Antiran special forces stormed the shelter, slaughtering the guards and executing Lares and his family. When the authorities investigated the breach, they found that the attackers had not broken in, merely used a code handed to them by Frans, whose envy and greed had led him to betray his own blood. Absalom, upon finding out, publicly excommunicated his brother from House Vaughn before trying him in court martial and finally executing him.

Now acting as the uncrowned king, Absalom led the skandran armies in defence of their home for seven months before finally repelling his foes and sending them reeling back to Antire. The war, however, was not over. Having met with unforeseen resistance, the Antire forces had been dealt a crippling blow, and were incapable of defending their homeworld from the Skandran counterattack. Leading the counter-invasion from the front, fighting and bleeding with the sons and daughters of the Kingdom, Absalom carved vast expanses of skandra-controlled territory on Antire. Following two years of brutal warfare, Antire surrendered to the invaders. The war was over, Absalom was triumphant.

### **Absalom Ascendant**

With the threat of Antire now neutralised, and with the Kingdom expanded following the latest conquests, Absalom could now proceed with his grand scheme unimpeded. His coronation, overseen by none other than his father Roland, was broadcast across the Kingdom, who watched in ecstasy as their saviour now became their leader. Billions hung from his lips as he promised them the stars, as he spoke of the bright future he would deliver to them. But first, they should focus on familiar worlds, their own worlds, and rebuild stronger what their foes destroyed.

The rebuilding efforts moved with surprising speed and efficiency under the guidance of Absalom and his hand-picked staff. Cities that lay as ash and cinders were erected anew, stronger than before and thrice as beautiful. The Amber King saw this as an opportune moment to improve upon outdated construction plans, renovate public buildings and rid the Skandran cities of slums and other such unsightly constructs. This new Skandra would adhere to the vision of its master, a vision with no tolerance for flaws.

Especially creative was Absalom's handling of Skandra's industrial problem. The industrial infrastructure was destroyed despite the army's best efforts, leaving the planet with no production output. Absalom decided to rebuild the factories and plants not on Skandra, which they would pollute and spoil, but on the vanquished Antire, a punishment for their transgressions against their betters. Over a period of seven years myriads of industrial plants were built on the world, intended to cover the majority of the Kingdom's needs. The populace was forced into manning their factories, their wages amounting to little more than scraps that barely allowed them to survive. Antire, once a thriving major power, was now reduced to a planet-wide factory, its natives all but enslaved and its environment ruined, all to sate the Skandrans' thirst for vengeance.

Soon after Absalom's restoration projects had been completed, his reign was graced by yet another expansion of Skandran borders, this time using diplomacy and politics instead of military might. The princess of Riudal, Kierstenn Alkrantz, who had just succeeded her late father to the throne, expressed her desire to incorporate Riudal, her home, to the Kingdom, and proposed a marriage between her and the King of Skandra, purely political in nature, to consolidate this alliance. Absalom could not oppose this proposition, as Riudal was a considerable power in the system and would significantly strengthen the Kingdom. Thus, Riudal became part of the Kingdom, and Absalom found his life-long companion. Though their marriage was indeed political, the pair soon bonded and grew close. Absalom, for the first time, met a mortal who could stimulate him in both mind and flesh. Each was drawn in by the other's beauty and sharp intellect and a strong love blossomed between them.

### **Birth of Stars**

Absalom's first meeting with his sons occurred on Terra, and it was far from the glorious moment the Primarch envisioned. Instead of being met with his honourable genesons, proud and gallant paladins that fought for the glory of Mankind, he was instead met with a horde of miscreants, a band of unstable savages, killing, raiding and pillaging constantly on their mind. The IIIrd Legion were naught but common thugs that brought shame to his name and were a candidate for purgation on grounds of insubordination and extreme violence.

All this needed to change, and this change should be enacted in a ruthless, awe-inspiring manner so as to ensure the IIIrd's future obedience. So it was that, upon first meeting with his sons, Absalom gave no grand speech, made no declarations, delivered no praise upon them. Instead, he merely forced the Legion Master to his knees and executed him before his brothers, an example of what was to follow. Hundreds more were executed to drive his message across; that the IIIrd would conform to his vision, or die. In the meantime, using stable geneseed derived from the Primarch himself, new recruits from Skandra were being inducted to replenish the ever-dwindling numbers of Terrans, who were being systemically purged through executions, suicide attacks and gruelling meatgrinder campaigns. In a few years, the IIIrd had been cleansed of its former dishonour under Absalom's guidance. It was then that their father deemed them worthy of a new name. The Marauders were no more. In their place now stood the Black Stars, paragons of the Legiones Astartes, agents of Mankind's future and Absalom's ambitions.

The Amber King's relationships with his brothers were no less tumultuous than with his Terran sons. Outshadowed once more by older brothers, Absalom felt his prestige threatened once more. In addition, his egotism and narcissistic tendencies, which had been fuelled by his successful reign on Skandra, as well as his Legion's poor performance in comparison to their peers, which filled his soul with envy and feelings of inadequacy, further exacerbated the situation and drove a wedge between him and his brothers. To him, the Primarchs were not family, but contenders, rivals that he had to surpass no matter the cost. And to surpass them, he would have to push his sons to their limit, force out their full potential and hone their skills to their maximum, so that they could adequately fulfil Absalom's plans and aspirations. Glory would be his, and so would the Emperor's favour. And if it meant making enemies of his brothers or forcing his son to their breaking points, so be it. In the altar of ambition, no sacrifice is too great.

Using the technology and resources of the Imperium, Absalom toiled endlessly towards improving his kingdom. Finally able to realise his grand vision, within two decades the changes he had brought to Skandra had turned it into one of the most prosperous territories of the Imperium, with his people's living standards orders of magnitude better than that of the average Imperial citizen. Under the rule of the Amber King, Skandra Prima had blossomed into a Paradise World, renowned for its allure and affluence. Such progress could never be achieved without sacrifice, however, and in the case of Skandra's advancement, an entire world would act as the sacrificial lamb; Antire was offered to the Mechanicum as a token of kinship between Mars and Skandra, and was converted into a Forge World, its inhabitants forced into menial labour or, in the case of those less fortunate, servitorisation. Using the substantial industrial capabilities of a Forge World, Absalom ensured that neither his kingdom nor his legion would seldom experience a shortage of supplies.

As for the Black Stars, freed as they were from the burden of their disreputable origins, they were fully dedicated to the ideals of the Great Crusade and the protection of Mankind. Over the course of the Crusade, the IIIrd Legion, having undergone a drastic and remarkably harsh reformation at the unyielding hands of Absalom Vaughn, carved a path of glory and accolades matched only by a select few of their peers. The surgical precision of their pacification campaigns, owing to their meticulous tactical preparation and impeccable application of their battle plans that allowed them to bring their foes to swift compliance or annihilation yet swifter, ensured that the Black Stars left in their path worlds not ravaged by long, gruelling wars that wore down any present infrastructure and population; instead, any worlds that had been graced by the providential intervention of the Stars were, on average, left in a state ripe for reconstitution and revitalisation. Forces of the IIIrd, including civilian personnel and Astartes officers alike had shouldered the task of leading the newly liberated planets on the journey to rebuild their homes in new fashion befitting the grand vision of their saviours, with the Dark Sun personally leading such efforts on many an occasion. Following the Legion's departure, it was not unheard of for small garrisons of Skandran Auxilia or, in those planets deemed important enough, Astartes, to be left behind.

The great care the Black Stars showed in regards to the welfare of the worlds they brought to the Imperial fold, coupled with the brilliant fashion in which they led the battles, displaying unmatched martial prowess and strategic acumen, bolstered their popularity among the people of the Imperium, elevating them to an envied heroic status and granting Lord Vaughn the unbridled adoration of billions. This effect was even more prevalent in the worlds that had been visited by the Legion's pacification efforts. There, powerful cults of personality had been formed around the Amber King, who they celebrated as their saviour and protector, showering his person with veneration that rivalled that directed towards even the Emperor forewarning of a much darker future.

The meteoric rise of the Stars, however, was not without its fair share of controversy; many were those who accused Lord Vaughn and his progeny of using the Crusade as a means to satisfy their ravenous egotism and further their own goals, while Absalom's brothers beheld the IIIrd with a mixture of respect, admiration but also suspicion, for they were aware of the sentiments harboured by their Skandran peers. As such, the IIIrd boasted few close allies among the Legiones Astartes, with their only notable associates being the Red Eyes and the Stalking Leopards. The sons of Vaughn believed themselves stronger alone, and needed not the companionship of their competitors to distract them from their duties.

### **The Disappearance**

The Emperor's mysterious disappearance on the turn of a new millennium came as a great shock to Absalom. His Father was the only person he deemed capable of leading Mankind towards the future they deserved, a future that had cost them countless lives to build. In his absence, the Primarch feared, those that coveted his throne, many among them his own brothers, would lead the Imperium to ruin as they struggled for domination. So it was that Absalom came to a realisation; there is no one more suitable to rule in the Emperor's stead, in the Emperor's name, than himself. With a new goal in mind, the Dark Sun rallied his legion and headed to Skandra, keen to put order to the havoc wreaked by the Emperor's disappearance and the Astronomican's malfunction. After sorting out his home's own affairs, then he could dedicate himself to saving his Imperium from the carrion eaters that were flocking around its corpse.

## **Legion Culture**

Before the discovery of their Primarch, the old IIIrd legion was comprised of brutal warriors with a background of tribal life and violence. It was only natural, as a result, that the legion's culture would mirror that past. "Might makes Right" perfectly sums up their beliefs. Officers were selected not because of their leadership skills or their ability to inspire, but because they had proven themselves stronger than any challenge, often defeating or even killing their predecessor in honour duels. Everyone was allowed to challenge their immediately superiors for their rank. This practice, combined with their power-hungry attitude, caused the command structure of the IIIrd to be remarkably fluid, with officers rarely lasting for more than a few months before being dethroned by their competitors. Weakness in the legion was looked down upon, and those deemed weak would find themselves the target of their brothers' ridicule, enmity and violence. The same principles applied to the aspirants, who were selected through brutal deathmatches. Over the course of their training and induction they would be subject to great cruelty and abuse by their trainers in order to become "stronger". As a result, aspirants became cruel, brutal and violent themselves, and would inflict the same abuse to future recruits, creating a vicious cycle.

As for their relationships with mortals, those they viewed as little more than weaklings, meatbags, in the case of Imperial soldiers, easy prey, in the case of civilians and nuisances, in the case of commanders. They did not concern themselves with minimalizing mortal casualties, instead, they seemed to encourage and enjoy them as proof of their superiority over the human dregs they had left behind on induction. Civilian casualties were of no concern to the IIIrd, and some would claim they even enjoyed them as they mercilessly raided enemy cities for sport. As for Astartes of other Legions, those they viewed with a mix of pity, for they forced strict rules on themselves, distrust of hatred. It was a rare occasion that the Marauders would willingly deploy with other legions, and they only begrudgingly worked together with the Shadow Warriors, since they had been placed under the stewardship of Rang Talyc.

After his reunion with the legion, Absalom Vaughn, disgusted with his son's prior behaviour, aggressively burned out all remnants of it in his Black Stars. New aspirants were now claimed exclusively from the Kingdom of Skandra, and new recruits were instilled with great discipline, as well as taught in the ways of proper conduct. Absalom's goal was a legion of noblemen as much as warriors, exemplars of what it means to transcend mankind, to become an Astartes. Aspirants would be screened extensively both mentally and physically, to make sure that only the finest specimens were allowed to join the legion. While not openly acknowledged, many noble and military families of Skandra had adopted the practice of eugenics, selectively breeding for generations to ensure that their scions would bear the desired characteristics that would grant them admittance to the Black Stars. This involved genetic manipulation to no small degree, and is the reason why many aspirants are of noble background despite the Legion's egalitarian and meritocratic selection. After the initial tests followed the First Proving, a great test of skills conducted before the primarch's chosen representatives. Candidates who passed this trial would then begin their long training, far more extensive than those of most legions and aiming to teach every future battle-brother all facets of combat. Their training wasn't limited to warfare but also academic studies and art, so the legionaries could be more than mere soldiers, go beyond and embody the values of their gene-sire. Throughout their training, tests were common and strict, so as to ensure the future generations' skills capabilities were nothing short of superb. At the end of their training, only those who passed the Grand Proving, their final trial, with Absalom himself as the judge, were fully inducted in the legion as true Battle-brothers.

Astartes of the Black Stats were expected to excel in all battlefield roles. Whether it is piloting, handling heavy weapons of fighting in melee combat, the sons of Absalom's would not be found wanting. Still, improving one's abilities was greatly encouraged in the legion, and martial excellence was indeed the ideal that all legionaries strived towards. Furthermore, astartes of all ranks would regularly go through the Teleotas, regular trials where they proved they remained in an optimal level of skill. Taking place in a virtual environment created by the legion's veterans and Absalom himself, the Teleotas pushes a legionary's skills to their limit. Failure is punished with rebuke, demotion or, in the worst case scenario, induction to the ranks of the Boetar Penitents, a fate equal to a death sentence. These practices would create a climate of intense competition which was in part cultivated by the legion command, and sometimes created fractures in the relationships between battle-brothers and even other legions, who were often less than keen on tolerating the IIIrd's arrogant tendencies. On the other hand though, a special kind of inter-astartes relationship was born. That of master and apprentice. Certain Black Stars would take it upon themselves to help their brothers hone their skills and realise their full potential. So was the unofficial rank of the Didactes born, those immaculate warriors who gathered a great entourage of followers and apprentice around them. Even though they were not recognised as true officers of the legion, Absalom and his upper command was nevertheless very satisfied with this development.

The pursuit of artistic activities is widespread in the IIIrd, with many legionaries being gifted sculptors, painters or singers. Absalom, a renowned patron of the arts himself, encourages such practices and takes great pride in his sons' skills, occasionally making grant displays of them to the general public and other Legions in the form of art galleries, concerts and intra-legionary contests. However, such extracurricular activities have their limits; a Black Star is only allowed to enjoy them once all his duties have been fulfilled in an adequate manner. In a way, a legionary's pastimes serve as a reward for good performance and an incentive for improvement. Likewise, should an Astartes be found lacking, his extracurricular privileges will be limited until an improvement has been noted. Higher ranking Stars enjoy greater freedom in such activities.

The Black Stars' relationships with other legions were mixed, and often mirrored their Primogenitor's relationships with his brothers. They were bound by close friendships with the Red Eyes and the Stalking Leopards, whose Primarchs were Absalom's closest friends, and maintained a friendly rivalry with the Crimson Lions. It was an undisputed fact though that the IIIrd's arrogance placed a big strain on their interactions with their peers, many of which held them in contempt as narcissistic gloryhounds whose loyalties lay only with themselves. As for those legions whose Primarchs were on hostile terms with the Amber King, like the Halcyon Wardens, the Iron Revenants and the Warrior of Peace, the Black Stars refused to fight alongside them unless expressly ordered by the Emperor of Mankind himself. Still, hostilities were practically non-existent between the IIIrd and other legions, as the sons of Vaughn would always strive to be courteous like their father. The same would apply to their relationships with mortals to which they were normally respectful towards. The Black Stars respected the soldiers who fought with them, obeyed the orders of imperial officers and tried to minimise both unnecessary losses and destruction of infrastructure, aiming to leave conquered worlds in the best condition possible. This disposition of theirs towards mortals, paired with Absalom's preternatural charisma and charm, have earned the IIIrd incredible popularity within the Imperium.

### **Grafting**

While the Black Stars are no strangers to esoteric and depraved practices that aim to bring them closer to the perfection they lust after, few methods bear a reputation as grim and vile as grafting. As its name implies, grafting involves attaching the organs and body parts of particularly powerful beings to one's own body, in order to absorb the might still held by these parts and make it their own. Developed during the Legion's embrace of the Dark Prince, these new creations would first see action at the Siege of Terra.

The process, long and arduous, involves surgically attaching the intended parts to the host's body, usually with the help of one of the Legion's apothecaries, who, having long abandoned their oaths, have no qualms about enacting such gruesome surgeries on their brothers. The surgery itself however is only the first and relatively safe part of grafting; what comes next is yet more important, and holds great peril for the life of the recipient. Once the recipient has recovered, it is time for the apothecary to hand the reins over to a sorcerer. The sorcerer, using a ritual woven superficially for this practice, will then attempt to graft what parts of soul and power remain in the decayed flesh to the Astartes. This ritual might take hours or even days depending on the number and potency of the grafted parts, and all through it the life of the receiving Star lies in peril, for should the spell fail his body will immediately reject the implants, resulting in grievous trauma and even rampant mutations that ravage their bodies in mere moments.

Should the ritual succeed, however, the subject will find themselves granted with newfound power that depends on the piece they chose to graft on their body. For example, by attaching the arm of a mighty Ork Nob, one will find their physical strength severely increased; Should one implant himself with the legs of a fierce Aeldari warrior, they will inherit some their victim's preternatural alacrity, which no human, mortal or otherwise, would be able to naturally acquire; and should the parts belong to a great champion of another legion, one might discover that they now possess the skills and secret techniques that made said champion so fearsome, and turn them against their victim's former brothers in a cruel twist of fate, slaying them, perhaps, with the very arms that once embraced them after a hard earned victory.

It should come as no surprise that the process of grafting distorts one's body in a grievous manner, as mismatched limbs burst out of places where they do not belong and horrible scars run down their bodies. Long time practitioners eventually reach the point where they can hardly be recognised as humans, instead resembling a nightmarish amalgamation of limbs and organs from a variety of sources, covered in patchwork armour as the Legion's armourers try their best to accommodate their bulk and illogical proportions.

While the true origins of grafting are unknown, the practice first made an appearance shortly before the Legion's relocation to the Maelstrom, and it is theorised that it came as the result of a high ranking warrior's envy for Valtar Laude's newfound, if monstrous, power which he acquired via daemonic possession and symbiosis. Nevertheless, grafting is treated with suspicion and often scorn inside the Black Stars, as many purists consider it a shameful shortcut using stolen power and hold the practitioners in contempt. Thus, despite its impressive results, its use has yet to become prevalent in the IIIrd, remaining instead confined to fringe groups. Curiously enough, Absalom himself appears not to share the opinions of his sons, and does not openly disapprove of grafting; this might be because the Amber King, wise beyond compare as he is, recognises that the source of power matters not, only its acquisition.

## **Legion Organisation and Structure**

After his discovery and reunion with his Legion, Absalom restructured the combat doctrine of the IIIrd to better suit his own views on warfare and to purge the brutality of their origins. During operations, the Black Stars adhere to the dictates of the *Principia Bellicosa*, and while there is an observed preference to melee warfare, Black Star detachments generally feature a balance of long and close range firepower, in order to maintain maximum tactical flexibility in battle.

The Legion's style of war reflects their primogenitor's bombastic nature. Before taking to the field, the officers of the Black Stars, each of them an expert tactician, will analyse the information gathered by scouts and infiltrators and proceed to formulate a detailed battle plan tailored to the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. They rob the foe of any advantage and destroy them in a swift and well-coordinated assault. This kind of warfare requires precise coordination between various units on the field, and as a result independence is not a favourable trait among low ranking officers. As one ascends the ranks however, he is expected to display greater independent thought and initiative, as he bears the burden of planning, coordinating and carrying out ever larger scale operations.

The organisation structure of the Black Stars has remained relatively unchanged since their pre-primarch days, as Absalom enacted few changes upon it. The most substantial change was the creation of the Grand Chapters, or Domens as they are called in the Legion, which encompass thirteen Chapters. The Domens were led by the Margravi, the most elite Astartes of the Black Stars, who had managed to gain the trust and admiration of Absalom through their superlative feats in combat and their cunning mind. It is those warrior-generals that form the inner circle of Absalom, standing right below the Primarch in the hierarchy and wielding great authority and prestige in the Legion. More than commanders, they were an example that their brothers would aspire towards. The Margravi were afforded great freedom of action, and would often lead thousands of Astartes as well as mortal warriors to combat, carrying out their gene-sire's orders without fail. In an unusual occurrence among the Legiones Astartes, the rank of fourth Margrav was held by a psyker, Chief Librarian Cyprian Wiez, who was counted amongst Absalom's most favoured sons and, perhaps, the closest to the Primarch in character.

While the Black Stars are not an especially psychic legion, the psykers of the IIIrd are not treated with the apprehension or distrust common in many of their peers. Members of the Librarius are viewed as possessing unique and powerful gifts that are invaluable in war, and admired for their dedication to mastering and controlling their gifts and realising their full potential. As a result, the Black Stars boast a sizeable and flourishing Librarius, with a leaning towards the disciplines of telepathy and biomancy

To ascend in the ranks of the third is an arduous task, for aspiring officers need to undergo long and demanding tests to prove they are worthy of the promotion. One must demonstrate both great skill in combat, the tactical acumen required for the demanding warfare of the Legion, as well as obedience to their superiors. Those that have displayed skill with arms that rivals that of all their peers have a chance to ascend to the ranks of the Ochranic Cavaliers and fight side by side with their gene-sire, regardless of former rank or seniority.

The ranks of Equerry and Margrav Aerst are separate from the command structure. While the equerry functions as the Primarch's voice in the Legion, the title of margrave aerst is awarded to that Astartes who best exemplifies the virtues of the Black Stars, and he leads the Ochranic Cavaliers to battle. The Margrav Aerst also acts as Absalom's bodyguard and champion. For more than three Terran decades, this rank has been held by Valtar Laude, as no challenger has succeeded in surpassing the genius duellist in skill of arms.

Knowledge of the enemy is paramount to the Black Stars. Combined with the consummation of their martial skill, it is the means to defeat their enemies with the outmost efficiency. To ensure that the Legion's stores of information are maintained and utilised effectively, the Minerav Clade was formed, incorporating the Legion's adept information analysts, strategists and scholars. Though not an official part of the command structure, they are nonetheless respected for their talents, and many of their members serve as advisors to high ranking officers or serve in such positions themselves. Though they do not have a set hierarchy, Tobiah Stolar, Absalom's equerry, is considered their de facto leader, himself being the foremost legion tactician.

Absalom always recognised the importance of order in an army, and strived to uphold it in his Legion by all costs. To this end, he created the Spahdien, a clandestine formation that would act as his eyes, ears and hands, monitoring their brothers for insubordination and dissent, and quietly eliminating threats to the Legion's harmony. Another, darker reason that lead to the Spahdien's creation was Absalom's own ambition, which sometimes would lead him down dark paths. Thus, the Spahdien would act as his secret operatives, carrying out assignments which at times violated imperial law. In the years following the Vanishing, as Absalom's dark ambition has been exacerbated by the Emperor's disappearance and the new order that followed in its wake, the Spahdien's activity and numbers have been increased significantly. The organisation is led by Cyprian Wiez, Chief Librarian of the Black Stars and trusted advisor to Absalom, who takes alarming pleasure in his duties.

### **Specialist Units**

* **Ochranic Cavaliers** - The elite warriors of the Black Stars and the personal guard of the Primarch. Personally selected by Absalom himself, upon ascension they must leave behind all ambition and personal aspiration and dedicate their lives to honing their skills and serving their gene-sire as his blade and shield. Befitting of their rank and prestige, they are outfitted in the finest wargear available to the Black Stars. Each Cavalier is clad in mastercrafted artificer armor forged personally, tailored to his specific needs, and armed with the legendary Khomíte Swordspear. Each weapon a priceless relic, the chosen of Absalom use them to fearsome effect in battle, shredding through opposition like a falling star.
* **Valkten Chosen Terminators** - On the eve of combat, the Ochranic Cavaliers kneel before Absalom, their heads bowed in reverence. Then, he chooses those among them that will serve in the Valkten for the next battle. This selection, although temporary, since it only lasts for a single battle, is viewed as a great honour, an acknowledgement of a Cavalier's skill by their Primarch, who rewards them above all their peers. Adorned in relic Tartaros terminator armor in resplendent black and gold, armed with mastercrafted weapons, they follow Absalom to war, the aftershocks to the Amber King's earthquake. There is also a hidden purpose to this practice; the cultivation of intense competition in the ranks of the Cavaliers, the contest for their Father's fickle favour grueling and never-ending. By using this subtle manipulation, Absalom ensures that his elite warriors will never stop honing their skills and improving.
* **Boetar Penitents** - In the Black Stars, failure is a crime that is punished harshly. And there is no punishment harsher than joining the Boetar squads, for such a fate means being condemned to death. Forced to relinquish their names, identity and livery, they are equipped with older patterns of power armor painted entirely black, signifying their sins and their grim fate. Their weapons are the result of brilliant, if cruel artifice, twin pistols created based on designs from the Dark Age of Technology, firing deadly projectiles saturated in deadly radiation, causing even a glancing hit to be potentially lethal as the target is exposed to terrible rad-energies. Not even the wielders are safe from their weapons' fearsome effects, and each Penitent is sentenced to die a slow, agonising death as his body falls apart, his cells destroyed by the radiation he employed against the enemies of mankind. For only in death will they have finally atoned for their failures. And when the time comes, and their hearts have stopped beating, the bombs implanted in their chests will explode, making sure they take as many foes as possible to the other side.
* **Gaistar Escadrille** - Not every Black Star ascended to the ranks of the Ochranic can devote themselves to the harsh demands of their calling, and prefer instead to make grand displays of their skills at every given opportunity. These warriors, brilliant yet unfit for service in the ranks of the Ochranic elites, are instead awarded a different honour; the privilege to ride to battle on the Legion's finest jetbikes. The Gaistar, as they are called, fall upon their enemies from all sides, confounding and encircling them, thinning their ranks with heavy firepower before charging in for the kill, ensuring that friend and foe alike witness the grace in their onslaught. They are clad in artificer armour and armed with the devastating Rastein axes, whose long hilts and broad blades make them excellent mounted weapons, as well as heavy weapons built into their jetbikes. Furthermore, said jetbikes have been modified with long, sharp blades mounted on their chassis, making their charges even deadlier. The Gaistar are used as an opening strike formation, thinning the enemy lines with their devastating assault so that their brothers can finish them off easily.

### **Equipment**

* **Zeitfrier Grenades** - This of equipment crafted by Forge World Antire, the Zeitfrier Grenades makes use of mysterious archaeotech discovered by the Black Stars in their conquests and adapted for Astartes use. They are explosive devices that can be fired from a grenade or missile launcher, and upon exploding, lock everything in the radius in a temporal anomaly. The victims, frozen in time and defenceless, are easy prey for their enemies. These grenades are only available to the specialists and elites of the IIIrd, as they are difficult to manufacture given the barely understood nature of the necessary technology.
* **Viter-Pattern Power Armour** - The MkIV "Maximus" has always been the preferred power armour pattern for the sons of Absalom due to the benefits offered by its more advanced systems and its balance of protection and agility. However, the Amber King believed that the pattern could be further improved beyond its already impressive performance, and tasked a team of select Magi with studying it and enhancing it. The result of their decades-long efforts was the Vitern sub-pattern, a heavily customised suit of power armor that offered protection equal to that of artificer armour while allowing the wearer greater freedom of movement than any other pattern. Its visual design has been streamlined, with slimmer greaves and sloped pauldrons similar to the ones found on Cataphractii tactical dreadnought armour. As the Viter pattern requires considerable resources to craft and maintain its use is a privilege reserved only for the highest ranking members of the Legion, such as the Ochranic Cavaliers and the fourteen Margravi.
* **Ainsad Mantle** - The Black Stars are infamous in the Imperium for the deeply competitive nature of their culture. In the IIIrd, personal achievements are paramount, and the Legionaries show no hesitation in their quest for success and distinction. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the practice of decorating one's armour and personal equipment as prood of superior status and prowess is prevalent in the Stars, as any veteran Legionary, even more so an officer, is expected to possess numerous medals campaign badges and trophies of significant victories on display. Chief among such practices are the famed Ainsad Mantles, a privilige reserved only for the most accomplished and eminent officers and champions. As their name suggests, the Ainsad are garments, most often cloaks though they can take various forms tailored to the demands of each owner, woven not with ordinary fabric, but instead an elaborate micromesh of precious metals, such as gold, silver or other materials rarer still. Upon said cloaks are woven the owner's long tallies of triumphs and achievements, epic retellings of their greatest feats. While the volume of the records varies between individuals, the most accomplished sons of Absalom bear mantles whose writing is dense enough to be barely legible, a testament to the virtuosity of the IIIrd Legion's elite.

## **War Disposition**

Throughout the Great Crusade, the stable geneseed of the Black Stars, which boasted low rejection rates and no notable mutations, in tandem with the wide recruitment area provided by the ever-expanding Kingdom of Skandra allowed their numbers to stay relatively stable and on the upper end of the Legions. However, said advantages were offset by the incredibly demanding selection standards and aspirant training that prevented the IIIrd from reaching their maximum potential size.

The Legion's numbers remained relatively stable in the years after the Emperor's disappearance, with a handful major decreases in their numbers occurring during the Reclamation Command and the Ullanor Crusade, where the Black Stars were the unfortunate first victims of the dreaded Primorks of the Ullanor Empire. Said losses however were replenished with intensified recruitment rates.

After the Black Stars withdrew from the Reclamation Command following the Second Ruin, and Absalom dedicated his full efforts to the preparation of his rebellion against Terra, the Dark Sun began to bolster the numbers of his transhuman warriors with utmost secrecy. It is estimated that the Stars numbered at least thirty percent more Astartes than indicated by official estimates. placing their numbers around two hundred thousand combat-ready Astartes. In addition, their forces were further bolstered by hundreds of thousands of mortal Skandran Auxilia soldiers and their elite forces, the gene-enhanced Frelsian Hussars, whose skills and equipment rivalled those of the famed Solar Auxilia, as well as Mechanicum support from the Forge Worlds of Antire and Tigrus, including the fearsome Legios Apollona and Solaria. Also on their side was the fearsome House Fioranti, whose mighty Cerastus knights would stride to war alongside the sons of Absalom against Terra.

Finally, the Legion's fleet was strengthened in a similar fashion, with the shipyards of the Kingdom working tirelessly to produce new battleships, cruisers and other warships for the Stars. By the time the Third Ruin began, the illustrious IIIrd stood stronger than ever before, with Absalom ready to claim his stolen birthright.

## **Exemplary Battles**

### **The Laeran Eradication (945.M30)**

Shortly after their reunion with their Primogenitor and their radical reformation, the Black Stars were finally ready to resume their duties in the Great Crusade. After a period of successful but unremarkable campaign, a scouting force of the 98th expeditionary fleet lead by Absalom Vaughn made an alarming discovery; a formerly unknown species of xenos native to an oceanic world named Laeran, designated Twenty Eight-Three by imperial authorities. The xenos, who called themselves the Laer, became the object of much study by imperial experts and high rankings members of the IIIrd alike.

Their observations indicated that the Laer employed heavy biological and technological enhancements in order to specialise themselves to the roles assigned to them by their society, all in the pursuit of "Perfection", their supreme ideal. The Laer were highly religious and monotheistic, having erected grand temples in veneration of their chief goddess, where rituals bordering on the grotesque and obscene would take place. Absalom, disturbed by the existence of a xenos race powerful and hideous in equal measure so close to his domain and secretly fearing that they might obstruct the planned expansion of his territory, ordered his Legion to converge to the Laeran system in spite of the Council of Terra's warnings that a war against these serpentine enemies could last decades.

The leadership of the Black Stars, chief amongst them the Primarch's thirteen Margravi, toiled for many solar days, formulating a meticulous plan of action that would see the Legion cripple the enemy aerial defences and descent en masse to the Laeran capital and delivering a decisive blow to their foes in the opening hours of the campaign. The battle opened with the fleet of the Black Stars smiting enemy aerial defence with heavy lance fire, followed by massed deployment of aircraft to neutralise the Laer fighting crafts and open a safe path for a drop pod offensive.

For two solar days a gruelling battle was fought on skies and land, and after the initial assault force succeeded in neutralising the capital's shielding, the second phase of the war begun, and the full might of the Skandran Sons descended upon the accursed xeno city, lead by Absalom himself. When first making planetfall, the Legion's librarius alerted their father of a malignant energy emitted by the world, a sense of profound corruption that surpassed even that of the most uncontrollable psyker. These news only urged the Amber King to make haste and end this vile species once and for all. Finally coming face to face with the Laer warriors, the Legionaries realised that their preparation would not be enough to best this adversary, for such was their augmentation and genetic enhancing that each Laer was an equal match to one, if not more Astartes. However, lead by their gene-sire and his elite warriors, the first company carved a bloody path through the city, heading towards the enemy headquarters, their greatest temple, a palace of profane architecture. Their transhuman nature further augmented by their skill and experience, nothing could stand in their way, not even the elite guardians of the temple, who had modified their bodies to the point they surpassed a primarch in height, though not in skill or strength.

Having purged the xenos from the building, Absalom and the psykers attached to his unit felt the full force of the corruption that had seeped to the planet's very core, a disturbing aura whose source could be traced to an artifact placed upon an altar in the centre of the temple; a sword of magnificent xenos artifice, its blade a striking silver adorned with bizarre markings and runes. Intrigued by the sword, which no doubt had a very important place in Laer religion, Absalom reached out to grab it, only to retract his hand in the last moment. The blade was clearly the source of whatever madness had gripped this land, and surely even touching it would be inviting damnation. Instead, the Lord of Stars reached for his famed pistol, the Verovaar, and unleashed blast after blast on the cursed weapon, reducing it to a hissing mass of molten silver.

At that moment, a psychic shriek reverberated across the world, forcing the Black Stars librarians to their knees and causing immense suffering to the Laer, crippling them and making them easy prey for the Emperor's angels of death, who proceeded to capture the capital within a day. With their centre of command fallen, the xenos nevertheless never faltered or surrendered, intent on defending their planet to the bitter end, a goal that they eventually saw through as they were eradicated after a secondary campaign that lasted a solar year and saw the Black Stars and the Skandran Auxilia supported by the mighty Terra Heredes, the most prestigious and decorated organisations of the Excercitus Imperialis, who had sent their 139th regiment, led by Marshal Nathaniel Harwood. However, the extinction of the Laer would not prove enough, for Absalom deemed the planet too corrupted by the dark legacy of its former inhabitants to be inducted in the Imperium, and thus Laeran was subjected to Exterminatus, its charred remains the proof of yet another triumph for the Black Stars.

## **Legion Combat Doctrine**

After his discovery and reunion with his Legion, Absalom restructured the combat doctrine of the IIIrd to better suit his own views on warfare and to purge the brutality of their origins. During operations, the Black Stars adhere to the dictates of the Principia Bellicosa, and while there is an observed preference to melee warfare, Black Star detachments generally feature a balance of long and close range firepower, in order to maintain maximum tactical flexibility in battle.

The Legion's style of war reflects their primogenitor's bombastic nature. Before taking to the field, the officers of the Black Stars, each of them an expert tactician, will analyse the information gathered by scouts and infiltrators and proceed to formulate a detailed battle plan tailored to the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. They rob the foe of any advantage and destroy them in a swift and well-coordinated assault. This kind of warfare requires precise coordination between various units on the field, and as a result independence is not a favourable trait among low ranking officers. As one ascends the ranks however, he is expected to display greater independent thought and initiative, as he bears the burden of planning, coordinating and carrying out ever larger scale operations.

## **Notable Characters**

* **Absalom Vaughn** - Primarch of the IIIrd Legion.
* **Tobiah Stolar** - Equerry. Scion of the noble house of Stolar and longtime friend and advisor to Absalom. In their youth on Skandra, Absalom and Tobiah were inseparable, bound by strong friendship and respect. The two young men were trained together in the kingdom's military academy and Tobiah, gifted with a keen intellect and a talent for organisation, swiftly rose up the ranks of the Skandran military, becoming one of the youngest high commanders at the age of 34. It was with him that Absalom orchestrated the counter-invasion to Antire and Fyressy following the joint attack the two planets unleashed on Skandra. After Absalom joined the Emperor in the Great Crusade, he didn't forget about his trusted companion and elected to ascend him to an Astartes through a specialised operation, given that Tobiah was too old to undergo the standard procedure. Now one of the Emperor's Angels of Death, Margrave Tobiah Stolar acts as the Amber Prince's equerry as well as his voice in the legion when the Prince is absent. An administrator and strategist rather than warrior, Stolar prefers commanding his troops from his command center. When he takes to the field, he does not follow his friend and master's close range fighting style due to his body not being as powerful as that of other Astartes. Instead, armed with a custom sniper rifle, he prefers to snipe foes from a comfortable range, never allowing them to reach him in close range
* **Valtar Laude**, Margrave Aerst - First Captain of the Black Stars and leader of the Ochranic Cavaliers.
* **Jacoby Margrol** - Primus Medicae. Born on the planet of Liva-Sar, the farthest of the Skandran kingdom, Margrol was selected by the apothecaries of the Stars and eventually became one himself. His skill and medical prowess led to his promotion to Primus Medicae, leader of the Legion's Apothecarion. Now stationed on the Legion's fortress on Skandra, Margrol oversees the arduous selection of new aspirants, making sure only the finest specimens are selected.
* **Cyprian Wiez, Glav Zaubris** - Starting his career as yet another newly elevated Astartes, Wiez's fate changed dramatically when, during a campaign against a non-compliant human empire, he was separated by his squad following an explosion and was captured by the enemy. After he was brought to the enemy headquarters for interrogation, Wiez was surprised to discover that he could control the minds of his interrogators, a power bestowed upon him by his newly awakened psychic powers. Using his newfound skill, Wiez escaped and proceeded to single-handedly take out his captors. Needless to say, his comrades were greatly surprised when their assault on the enemy's headquarters was met, instead of enemy resistance, with a single Astartes calmly walking out of the building, the enemy leader obediently following in tow. Following the operation, Wiez joined the Black Star Zaubrisus, where he trained in the psychic arts and especially telepathy. Now leading the Zaubrisus himself, and also serving as the fourth Margrav of the Legion, he is both a telepath of great power and a skilled combatants, wielding his cruel weapon, the force scourge Vilden and his psychic powers to deadly effect.
* **The Disgraced** - A mystery among the Legion, the marine who would come to be known as the Disgrace or the Ashamed was once a member of the Boetar squads. However, by some cruel twist of fate, the punished marine would return unharmed from every single mission, never able to earn absolution in death. This went on and on, and all the while rumours ran rampant among the Legion, that the mysterious battle-brother was anything from a ghost that animated his power armor to even one of the lost brothers of their gene-sires, who stole the marine's place and identity and joined the Legion. No matter what the truth may be, the Disgraced is a legend among the IIIrd, feared and respected in equal measure. No one remembers his name or the sound of his voice, though some claim that he is the former Margrave of the 1st Division, Alhen Haes, who earned the Amber Prince's ire after leading his forces to a defeat in a joint operation with the Halcyon Wardens, embarrassing the legion and his gene-sire in the eyes of his rival, Alexandros. He has become the unofficial leader of the Boetar, leading the failed sons of Vaughn to their extreme missions, and destroying his enemies in a hell of phosphex unleashed by his twin pistols.
* **Markus Calantar** - A notable member of the Legion's Veteran division, Viscont Calantar is held in high regard by his brothers as one of the most skilled veterans of his division. Proving himself in a number of campaigns, he has caught the attention of his Primarchs and he is considered a prime candidate for promotion to the Ochranic Cavaliers, and an inspiring example for other low rankings officers and common marines.
* **Stefan Gaar** - A native of Talanis and currently Margrave of the 8th Domen, Gaar ranks among the most illustrious and celebrated members of the IIIrd.
* **Elzebec Ortennasse -** 11th Margrave, second in command of the Spahdien.
* **Abel Tsalaev, Last of the Marauders** - A figure of controversy in the Legion, he was admired for his wisdom borne from centuries of experience and his temperance and loathed for his radical views. Never one to pursue glory, highly critical of the obsessive compulsion to improvement and the oppressive competition cultivated by his primogenitor, Tsalaev amassed a number of detractors as well as followers.

#### **Mortal Characters**

* **Kierstenn Alkrantz -Vaughn** - Wife of Absalom Vaughn. The third conquest of Absalom Vaughn was not through war or other violent measures. Instead, the world of Riudal peacefully accepted to be annexed to the kingdom. The annexation was sealed with the marriage of Absalom and princess Kierstenn of the royal house Alkrantz. Although purely political at first, the princess was captivated by Absalom's charisma and romantic gestures while in turn the King grew fond of her intelligence, beauty and strong character. Renowned across the six worlds for her beauty, she displays the traditional characteristics of the Riudali: alabaster skin, striking blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Despite her age, her husband has ensured she receives state of the art rejuvenat treatments to maintain her youth and beauty. Instead of remaining idle in the royal palace, she has instead chosen to follow her beloved in his journeys, residing in a luxurious, extremely protected suite in the *Antares*, Absalom's flagship, watching the Legion's battles from her personal observatory.

## **Gallery**

Marauders colour schemeBlack Stars colour schemeRemembrancer Sketch of a Black Stars PraetorBlack Stars Veteran Legionary clad in Arkonak pattern Terminator Armour.Black Stars Veteran Legionary clad in Tartaros Terminator.Black Stars Veteran Sergeant