Basilate

"*Necromancer, Betrayer, Exiled. All to serve and save, giving to the last. It will cost your very life. Yet you will continue to give, and serve. Your martyrdom has not gone unnoticed Spiritseer*"
—Vix-Anna to Basilate before the first battle of Hamartia. The ever distant Basilate was seen to be like his old self in the weeks before his death, playful and present, rather than consumed by the infinity circuit.
Basilate is one of the quadrumvirate that leads the Shadow of the Phoenix, and heads the numerous Spiritseers that serve them. Basilate is a powerful psyker and artisan in his path. Over his long career the Spiritseer has become consumed with his craft, fading into the Infinity Circuit, before sacrificing himself in battle.

## History

Basilate, unlike the majority of the young Exodites of Aleo, remained on the moon with his family learning the path of the seer under his father studying the nature of Aeldari spirits, and the world spirit. This fell apart when Drukhari raiders mercilessly slaughtered both of Basilate’s parents during their attack. While initially Basilate joined his twin in enacting revenge, as a warlock, he would succumb to the pain and hatred. With Slannesh’s grip tightening around his heart he retreated to Craftworld Erdinil and returned to the Path of the Seer to prevent becoming lost to depravity and self-loathing. For many decades he grew in knowledge and skill, obsessively gathering knowledge and understanding of Aeldari spirits and their interaction and symbiosis with wraithbone; travelling to dozens of craftworlds and exodite planets across the galaxy and speaking to hundreds if not thousands of similarly learned persons. His artisan skills eventually became second to few, and the secrets of the Aeldar wraithbone were intimately known to him.

When the Erdinil was later on raided by Drukhari Basilate was determined that the same injuries to his family would not be inflicted to his children. He raised the dead as warriors to defend the craftworld, an instantly effective and equally controversial move. Though the Craftworlds leaders were grateful that their people were protected, and partially through Basilate their captives retrieved, such a heinous act of Necromancy, against their most sacred laws, could not go unpunished; Basilate was banished.

Basilate was slain during the events of the Hamartia campaign, a calamitous battle that saw the Shadows routed. His initial consumption by a Greater Daemon of slannesh left his brother in a tortured state, but ultimately he was liberated with the Daemons truth death. However, after three millennia of death, Basilate was unexpectantly resurrected by a herald of the Ynnead, the immense joy that was returned to his family was overshadowed by the political strife and implied blackmail of an otherwise beautiful gift.

## Personality

A playful and loving father, Basilate’s young and jovial attitude has been ground away into a curt and professional detachment, resurfacing during difficult or experimental work with guiding Aeldari spirits. An excellent diplomat, calm and patient. As with many Spiritseers, Basilate found himself disappearing and merging into the world spirit of his craftworld Erdnil and later ‘Penumbra’, the Shadow's Craftworld. Before his banishment the man had already faded much away into his work, and restoring the captured Craftworld took yet more of him. At the time of the Hamartia campaign Basilate was a ghost of his former self, but some report during his final battle that he led with the energy of his young self. Returning to realspace as a Wraithseer Basilate remained relatively unchanged and distant, leading Regulate to joke that he hadn’t noticed his own death at all.

Basilate’s curt and professionalism stem from a deep practicality and pragmatism that Regulate shares, he has no qualms with raising the dead to fight, and sacrificed himself in battle because it was the logical conclusion. It is no surprise that he would continue to serve as a Wraithseer without protest. This attitude left many disturbed in his company, but was generally appreciated by the morbid shadows.

## Position

Though Regulate would have taken Basilate as a leader of equal position, the latter preferred to defer to the former. Basilate is the greatest ‘teamplayer’ of the quadrumvirate; Through him is Kabela’s loyalty, tied by blood to Regulate, and even Vix-Anna knows him as friend. Basilate leads the Ghost Warriors of the Shadows, and heads the schools of future Spiritseers produced in-house. Such is his skill and experience that those Aeldari that have contact with the Shadows regularly call upon his teachings for their own Spiritseers; though ofcourse in an unofficial capacity. This gives Basilate a position as a resource as well, his tutoring bring in recruits, contacts, work and allies. Even in death his duty continued, as Basilate became a formidable Wraithseer, and additionally constituted the Shadows singular Wraithknight with Regulate as the pilot.

## Reputation

Basilates renown has steadily increased throughout his life, in line with his ability on the battlefield, leading greater numbers of Ghost Warriors into battle with greater coordination. The Wraith under Basilates guidance are not only lucid but seem to come alive under his direction. It is no surprise that his witch powers rivals Vix-Anna’s, the two are a devastating combination. As Vix-Anna weaves a malevolent chaos across the enemies battlelines, Basilate punches through with colossal force. Further Basilate is renowned for his communing with the dead, rarely failing to rouse or convince a spirit to aid them. Regulate would have every able warrior, and despite being labelled as such Basilate is no Necromancer and has never demanded that the spirits serve, only ask. These same skills carry across to the diplomatic table. Despite this Basilate’s official position among Craftworlds and Exodite planets is that of a Necromancer, few will accept his presence in any capacity, despite often seeking his council.

## Transcendence

Basilates story took one last surprising turn in the 42nd Millenia, as the Shadows came into contact with the expanding reach of the Ynnarri they avoided confrontation and allegiance. Regulate wanted no alliance he did not have authority over, and knew that the Shadows would be joining the Ynnari, not the other way around. No matter the allure of an active and powerful god they would remain distant. However the Ynnari's approach was insidious, their herald approached the Shadows in the embers of a battlefield, and with a single touch of Basilates Wraithbone body, the organic form of Basilate appeared once more, alive and lucid, as if he had never died at all. Regulate understood immediately that they had no choice. Since his rebirth Basilates soul has remained fluid, transferring between wraith construct, infinity circuit and organic body as easily as water between containers.

## Armoury

Basilates primary weapon is his psychic potential, and witch powers. However, should it come to weapons Basilate wields a Witchstaff, and ‘Phantom’s Intent’. On the demands of his brother Basilate also carries a ranged weapon, settling on a Cloudpiercer, as all of the Shadows leaders are expected to remain ambidextrous in combat role and choose a well balanced weapon. Basilates capability with the Lasblaster and blade are mundane, reserve to his witchpowers. Basilate wears the robes and ghosthelm of a Spiritseer. Kabela and Regulate spared no expense in these garbs when fortune favoured their resources, the armour that sits below his ornate robes is the equal to those of aspect warriors and will turn any attacks that passes his formidable spirit shield.

## Wargear

* **Phantom’s Intent** - a powerblade gifted by Kabela and imbued with aggressive spirits that redirect the weapon to its enemies weakpoints and attacks their souls directly. An ideal weapon for an uninspired swordsman, this wicked blade practically directs itself to unfortunate victims that bypass the psychic onslaught of the powerful Spiritseer.
* **Thunderstorm** - the cloudpiercer Basilate utilises is a well crafted and maintained weapon, worthy of his position. Like its brethren sword it is imbued with a malevolent spirit that guides his aid, which kill the Thunderstorm grows thirsty for another and another.