Gregorius Cynhard

Lord Inquisitor Gregorius engaged in battle

**Gregorius Cynhard** is a Lord Inquisitor of the Emperor's Holy Inquisition's Ordo Xenos. Born in the mid years of the thirty fifth millennium he was inducted into the Adeptus Custodes while still in his formative years. Spending over four thousand years within their ranks he served as a Warden and a Shadowkeepers of the Black Cells. However, eventually he turned in his arms and armour and left their ranks. Upon leaving the man travelled the galaxy as an Eye of The Emperor. Gaining a network of informants and sending information back to Holy Terra through a number of secret channels. Eventually Gregorius found himself joining the Inquisition and, as of M42, serving as an Inquisitor for many centuries.

## History

The history of the inquisitor known as Gregorius Cynhard remains unknown to almost all who call the Imperium home, including to the man himself. Only a handful of details about his formative years are still known in the dawn of the forty second millennium;

* The first of these details is that Gregorius was born in the middle years of the thirty fifth millennium to a noble family, decedents of guards within the honoured Lucifer Blacks, who now lived with the family name Cynhard.
* The location that Gregorius was biologically born all those millennium ago is now one long lost to the annals of history. It's name no longer used in the official records. Only commonly written within Gregorius' extensive name; Aravan saw the birth of the man who would become a demigod.
* In his young years as the son of a Terran noble Gregorius saw his formative study undertaken under the tutors of the Linum house. A house holding tutors skilled in many academic specialities that were soon passed on to Gregorius
* Gregorius' first tutoring in the art of martial combat was undertaken on the planet Brethnal, dust swept and no no more than a dead ball in the void it was once a haven for weapon masters the galaxy over.
* His first live combat was on a mountain top, the mountain no longer standing, by the name of Àrd'Cairn.

That is all that is known about the early years that shaped Gregorius into who he is today. However, what is known is that a handful of millennium before his birth one of the darkest time in Imperial history began. The warmaster Horus Lupercal turned his back on the Emperor and thus began the nine years known as the Horus Heresy. In its closing days a brutal siege that lasted many Terran months and would become known as The Siege of Terra began. Those that were once loyal to the Emperor tryed to break the palace fortifications. Eventually, after much fighting, the Imperial forces secured a victory, although not without heavy losses. The heaviest being the internment of the Emperor upon the Golden Throne.

Even though it was before his time the internment of the Emperor sat heavy with Gregorius. He was a custodes and thus it was the purpose of him, and his kin, to protect the Master of Mankind. However, all those years ago they failed in that task and the Emperor fell to the forces of the traitorous warmaster. This saw one of Gregorius’ main driving forces start within him. His kin failed in their task all those years ago but he would not fail in his Emperor given task.

Thus he donned the black cloaks of mourning his kin wore, wielded his sentinel blade, and hefted his praesidium shield. With armour like an unbreachable fortress wall, and confident only held by the Custodes he set about his mission. He swore an oath to watch over the Emperor, and guard his form until he was no longer fit for service, or until the Emperor once more walked among his subjects.

For almost five and a half centuries Gregorius stood vigil with his kin inside the Imperial Palace. As battles waged outside the palace Gregorius, and the custodes, remained within the palace. All the custodes carried the burden of their kin’s failure and thus remained in deep contemplation of their failure to the Emperor. Even as the Hrud beseeched the Imperium during the time known as The Hurd Risign the custodes stood vigil over their master’s body.

In the dawn of the thirty sixth millennium Gregorius receive the promotion by his kin to the position of Shield Captain; A classification that designated the man as a low ranking commander within the Adeptus Custodes. While he wasn’t held in as high regards as the Lictors, the Prefects and certainly not the Tributes his voice held some authority within the ranks of his Kin.

He held this position for a full century before another change. During this time he participated in the Blood Games, repelled minor probing attacks from the Emperor’s foe, and aided in overseeing the defence of Terra itself. While for some it may be a breathtaking honour for Gregorius it was a sign that he may be slowly starting to atone for the failings of his elder kin.

However, as the thirty seventh millennium slowly rolled around Gregorius once again saw a change in his title. This time he was truly honoured. Returning his sword and shield to the Hall of Armaments Gregorius donned the scarlet robes, and shouldered the great castellan axe, of a true Custodian Warden. Upon donning his robes Gregorius swore to uphold the oath he has spent a full year alone, atop the precarious ledges of the Gallowtower, writing. A binding word protect his charge until he was no longer suitable for his given task.

For over a millennium the man served as a warden. He stood living fortification constructed of auramite and taut sinew that could cut low a foe without letting them gain a step toward his sacred charge. He guarded the Imperial Palace and the great corridors within her heart, for a few short decades Gregorius was even honoured enough to guard the Eternity Gate itself. He stood vigil, strong and unmoving for his entire vigil; That was until his commander approached him with a new deployment.

Gregorius was to report to a titanic armoured gate deep within the Imperial Palace, a gate guarded by black clad Custodes. Gregorius was to join the Shadowkeepers in their vigil over the Black Cells beneath the Imperial Palace. So, with his axe in hand, Gregorius coloured his armour sable black and started a watch alongside the Shadowkeeper sof the Black Cells. On and off for one and a half millennium Gregorius stood watch, occasionally returning to his post as a Warden when it was concluded a respite was needed. However, he always returned to the Cells. The years moved quickly as he aided in the securing of many a unknowable entity, and the securing of items that would have driven a sane made mad and made a mad man crave power like no other.

However, just over two millennium ago, a creature broke free of its restraints and set out into the corridors of the Black Cells. A strange, and undeniably powerful, creature that seemed to meld into shadows before suddenly appearing from another a moment later. Of course the Shadowkeepers didn't shy away they instantly engaged the creature in combat; Shields, axes and swords clashed with tooth, talon and tail. However, the creature kept moving. Making a beeline for the exit to the Dark Cells the strange entity didn't find its way clear, instead it found Gregorius Cynhard waiting for it to approach.

He can assumed the creature would head for the exit so had set off before hand, hoping to cut it off before it arrived. So as the snarling beast tore through the corridor Gregorius hefted his castellan axe up into a defence stance as he prepared for the impact, and a mighty impact it was. Even the mighty custodian was pushed back as the beast slammed into him with a powerful roar.

The two warriors engaged in combat as they wrestled, fought and vied for control in the restricted corridors of the corridor. While Gregorius knew he wasn't going to win all he had to do was hold out long enough for the other custodes to arrive and shackle the beast. For a number of minutes the fight went on but eventually the creature was shackled and dragged back to its cell. However, Gregorius didn't come out unharmed; He had take heavy injury from the beasts powerful claws and vice like teeth.

Of course, however, Gregorius had access to the best medical aid the Imperium had at its disposal. Within a week his wounds were healed and Gregorius was back to full fighting strength. However, having returned to his quarters the man fell into silent contemplation thinking about the events that had occurred. He was a member of the Emperor's Adeptus Custodes...That beast shouldn't have been able to lay a claw on him, let along injure him to the extent it did. It was time for Gregorius to admit what he had hopped he would never have to. He was started to slow down. Only by a fraction of a second but it was enough to know that he was no longer suitable for the purpose he had been created for.

Thus, with a heavy heart, Gregorius entered into the Hall of Armaments. His equipment cradled in his arms the man approached the Custodes quartermaster and with one final vow he handed his arms and armour over to the Hall. In return Gregorius was presented with a heavy long length black cloak. Taking the cloak from the custodes Gregorius wrapped it around himself, securing it with a simple metal broach, disguising his appearance with ease. Without a word the man turned his back on the Imperium Palace that he can called his charge for over four millennium. Boarding a small Imperial ship that was planning to meet up with a large void ship in orbit.

Thus Gregorius set out into the galaxy...An Eye of The Emperor.

For one thousand four hundred years Gregorius travelled the galaxy. He garnered a web of informants from all walks on Imperial life, he fed information back to the Imperial Palace through many secret channels and even saw combat against the Emperor's Foe. For this reason Gregorius clad himself in armour and picked up the blade and bolter once again. He chose not to wield an axe or spear like the Terran Custodes for he felt that those would be earned in the coming millennium.

However, the combat he saw did not leave Gregorius unscathed. He was wounded time and time again. While his Custodian physiology aided in some events he wasn't impenetrable. His auramite armour was long since passed on to the next Custodian and he no longer had access to the resources and treatment he once had. So Gregorius decided to fix his wounds with a number of minor cybernetics; Two eyes, a lung lobe, and a replacement of his left foot. These sleek cybernetics, while mainly to replace wounded parts, allowed Gregorius to blend in a little easier with the citizens of the Galaxy. Moreover, the man got a Mind Impulse Unit fitted into his mind to allow him to see through his familiars, now that his helm no longer fed him a constant HUD of information.

Finally, eight centuries ago, in the dusk of his fifth millennium Gregorius had an idea. He had seen the galaxy, he had fought beside heroes of old, he had witnessed the birth of new heroes on the battlefield and he had seen new Xenos races carved a bloody path through the Imperium. So Gregorius decided that he would put his skills, his authority, to good use. Cloaking himself in his thick black cloak the man set out to the Inquisition and the Ordo Xenos.

Luckily Gregorius' web of informants included a number of Inquisitors, from a number of the ordos. Through these informants Gregorius was able to eventually become an Inquisitor in his own right. He served within the Ordo Xenos to ensure his skills remained useful, his network continued to grow, and that he could ensure the up and coming heroes of the Imperium had the start they deserved.

For five hundred years Gregorius served across the galaxy. He went through many retinue members. Some left to new things, some passed away and some moved on to better things, but none of them had Gregorius' resentment. On a handful of occasions Gregorius was honoured to be asked to ascend to a Lord Inquisitor. However, every single time he turned it down. As a standard inquisitor Gregorius was able to use the lowest level retinue without issues and without questioning.

However, as he entered his entered his sixth century of serving the Inquisition Gregorius could no longer turn down the officer. He had operated from locations across the galaxy, he had seen heretics, xenos and foes of all types but all under the close eye of the Imperium. Gregorius knew that if he accepted the rank of Lord Inquisitor he would be able to have more free reign to bring who he saw fit into his retinue, he would be able to make contact with people in all walks of life, and he would be able to complete his Emperor given tasks with more ease.

Now Gregorius has been an Inquisitor for eight centuries and is still serving as an Ordo Xenos inquisitor. He has seen the past six millennium of the Imperiums past and the future millennium's are still on the horizon. Will the Imperium continue to stand? Will the Emperor walk among his subjects again? Will the Imperium see victory in a galaxy that vies for its doom?

## Name

* **Gregorius** - His forename. Quite possibly the name given to him at birth
* **Cynhard** - The family name of the bloodline that provided Gregorius' gene-source; Nobles descended from honoured guards within the Lucifer Blacks.
* **Aravan** - The location which was the site of Gregorius' biological birth.
* **Linum** - The house who's tutors saw to the formative study of Gregorius
* **Brethnal** - The location of Gregorius' first tutoring in the skills of martial combat
* **(+10)**
* **Àrd'Cairn** - Fifteen names into the sequence that makes up Gregorius name is the one given in remembrance of his first live combat deployment. Upon the mountain of Àrd'Cairn Gregorius' blade tasted the blood of the Emperor's foes for the first time.
* **Eran** - Given to Gregorius in remembrance of a battle in which a building was brought down on his squad and the group seemingly arose from the rubble and debris
* **Zionan**
* **(+58)**
* **William**
* **Bassam**
* **Thekla**
* **(+74)**
* **Alec**
* **Romà**
* **Zephyr**
* **Ural**
* **(+95)**
* **Blackoak**
* **Győző**
* **Deacon**
* **(+78)**
* **Gretnal**
* **Arlo**
* **(+65)**
* **Pétrus**
* **Salih**
* **Altanatare**
* **(+87)**
* **Ciaran**
* **Velox**
* **Aries**
* **Yana**
* **Petrum**
* **Caomhnóir** - The last name Gregorius holds was given in remembrance of the stand he took to defend the gates of the Dark Cells. An attempt that was successful but ended with him handing his equipment over and setting out as an Eye of The Emperor

## Appearance

Gregorius is a towering obelisk of a man...if a man he can be called. Standing only two inches short of a full nine foot, he is a handful of inches taller than even the tallest of the Adeptus Astartes' primaris brothers. Moreover, Gregorius is extremely well built, seeming to have almost been chiselled from a block of solid marble; Each muscle group is well defined, dense and powerful. However, while muscular, Gregorius also appears to be unbelievably light on his toes and extremely agile. When he moves with speed Gregorius is capable of striking people dumb with pure transhuman dread. Nothing possessing his height, size and bulk should be able to move as quickly and as agile as he was capable of. Men are struck dumb, forced to their knees, and loose control of their functions.

However, Gregorius seems to almost despise using his own capabilities, at least not to their full extent. This is why he almost always wears a heavy black cloak that falls to the ground, dragging a handful of inches, and is almost always pulled loosely around him. Secured at the throat with the symbol of the inquisition and a series of toggles down its front, the cloak's only function is to disguise Gregorius' appearance. For his time as an Eye of The Emperor this has worked time and time again. He has been called a freak, a mutant, a smart ogryn, even a cursed creature the Emperor forgot. None of these bother Gregorius as the more he can hide what he once was the better.

One thing that is visible, if somewhat shadowy, is Gregorius' face. Two cool stone grey eyes that look out from a golden tanned face. If one were to look close they maybe able to see the circuitry within the left eye; at some point in his past it had been replaced with a high class bionic. His chin was covered by a thick, if somewhat short, well cared for beard and his upper lip by a well maintained moustache. Both the moustache and the beard matched the colour of the man's short swept back black hair. However, while his hair is still a rich black every now and then it is possible to spot a white thread weaving its way through like a vein in a block of onyx.

If Gregorius' hand was forced, and he saw it needed, to enter combat himself the man methodically unfastens the front of his cloak and allows it to swing open. Once the heavy material moves out the way Gregorius battle armour is revealed; A custom set onyx black matte armour, crafted to fit him perfectly. Hugging his figure it provides impressive protection without hindering his movement. The black of the amour is accented in brilliant gold, reminiscent of the armour of his old peers. Moreover, the pauldrons, and the wrists of the armour are detailed in a rich ruby red, that calls back to his Shadowkeeper armour. Around his waist the man has tied a simple brown leather belt. Purchased from a small marketplace on a small planet the belt is weathered and has clearly seen wear for a long time. However, it still serves its purpose. On his left hip Gregorius carries a Mark III bolt pistol, on his right hip a long combat survival knife and his Xenophase Blade. A large weapon that he was gifted from Deathwatch officer; Designed to be a two handed weapon Gregorius prefers to wield it in one.

## Personality

Why, as an eye of the Emperor, did Gregorius decide to join the Inquisition? The main reason is simply that Gregorius wishes to expand his informant network as wide as he is able. The more people he can gain information from the better he can protect Terra and the Emperor. He also wishes to ensure the skills and knowledge he gained during his millennium of service will not go to waste. He was trained, among many other things, as a diplomat, a guard, and a warrior. As an Eye his diplomatic training is used time and time again, but his training as a warrior is not. However, as an Inquisitor his training as a warrior, as a tactician, sees regular use.

However, another reason that Gregorius joined the Holy Inquisition is that he knows many of the Imperium's heroes are yet to make a name for themselves. The ones who are known across the galaxy need to help and can clearly work by themselves, or as they are. This is the reason that Gregorius' retinue is made up almost entirely of people who are low ranking, or new members, within their respective organisations. Moreover, once a member of his retinue has proven themselves Gregorius returns them to their orders, a new rank attached to their name. This, not only, allows the new Imperial heroes to step into the light but also increases Gregorius' web of informants throughout the Imperium. If he is able to help someone improve themselves, or able to step back and allow someone else to prove themselves...he will.

Although he is a warrior born and bred Gregorius is, at heart, a kind man. He will put himself in harms way to ensure other people can be protected. Moreover, Gregorius isn't one to leap into combat at the drop of a hat. Truth be told it takes an awful lot to push the man to fight. He will more often than not try to defuse a situation with words before the thought of fighting even crosses his mind. He is also an expert in utilising intimidation if words fail. This is often through the use of his retinue, allowing the fresh faced members to shine as he stands in the back watching for when the situation calls for him to step in.

## Abilities and Traits

Gregorius is a warrior born and bred. His ability to fight is second to only the primarchs, his superior officers, and the Emperor himself. He is able to fight in a group, a squad or a regiment, but flourishes when taking to the battlefield himself. His weapon of choice is a castellan axe or a guardian spear. However, since he hand to relinquish his equipment when leaving the Adeptus Custodes Gregorius has taken to using a sword and pistol in lieu of his standard equipment.

The man is also trained in the Custodes' Martial Art of Martial Ka'tahs. A series of powerful stances that he can effortlessly adopt during combat so as to utilise the best stance for a specific scenario. His preferred stance is that of Kaptaris; a close range stance designed to trap his for with parries, blocks and locks.

However, Gregorius is not simply a tool of war, like some other members of the Imperium. He was also trained to be a diplomat and a confidant to his Master. He is able to talk in both formal and informal settings as simply as one may breath. He is able to tell when he needs to back away and when its best to apply pressure to someone. Gregorius can also be extremely convincing when needed. This can be so subtly that people don't even know they have been convinced or blatant intimidation that people worry the wrath of the Inquisition is about to decend on them.

Finally, even though he left their ranks many lifetimes ago, Gregorius is a member of the Adeptus Custodes. Thus he has inherited their genetic abilities, skills and capabilities. When compared to a normal mortal, or even to a brother of the astartes, Gregorius is faster (Both speed and reactions), stronger, more durable, possess more stamina and even possesses the Custodes intelligence.

When it comes to speed Gregorius is able to react with such staggering speed that he is able to, like brothers of the astartes, swat bolter shells out of the air from a point blank range. However, more impressively the man is also able to dodge las fire, if he is aware of it coming his way. In a flat sprint Gregorius is able to move at speeds nearing 100mphs (161kmh) and he is able to move in short bursts at supersonic speeds.

Strength is one of Gregorius most immediately obvious attributes. Able to lift multiple tons and even kick over a tank with little to no effort. When striking he is able to punch a hand clean through many a foe, able to flick a piece of debris and turn it into a deadly weapon. He is even able to rip a bulk head clean off its hinges if the need arises

Without his armour Gregorius is able to tank shots from an autogun onto his bear chest and walk away with barely a scratch. Moreover, he is able to survive drops where his impact would create a crater in a voidcraft's floor. He is even able to survive a head on collision with a Land Speeder,

Gregorius is able to fight with everything he has for weeks on end without tiring and without slacking. Moreover, even after sustaining a wound that would kill a mortal man many times over Gregorius can keep fighting keep moving on as if he didn't realise he was already a dead many walking.

Finally, Gregorius is a wickedly intelligent man. His training, paired with his millennia of experience, has made him a master in all aspects of war; Assassination, espionage, threat recognition, tactics, defences, any many more. Moreover, the man has been training in disciplines to aid him in his goal as a diplomat, a guide and a friend. He is extremely skilled in diplomacy/statecraft, navigation (Both astro, land and sea), geography, history, philosohpy/thesophy, art and much much more

## Weaknesses

One of Gregorius' biggest weaknesses is his kind heart. When he was a member of the Adeptus Custodes he was just as methodical and practical as any other member. If he needed to sacrifice a standard mortal to ensure the protection the Master of Mankind, or the sanctity of the Dark Cells, he would sacrifice them without a seconds hesitation. However, since leaving the Custodes Gregorius has seen more of the galaxy than in his whole time with them. He has seen the good, the bad and the fact that even in the darkest times the mortals hold hope and belief close to their hearts. It's due to this that Gregorius' heart has grown and his love for mortals has increased unfathomably. Why is this a weakness? As a custodes, or even possibly an astartes, and many of them would say it is nothing more than a hampering to his abilities. However, the truth is Gregorius' kindness has been a weakness on many occasions due to the fact that he will put himself in harms way to protect a mortal, he will try to appeal to reason before simply lashing out, and he will even let his retinue act, if there is even a tiny possibility of them making a name for themselves, even if it might jeopardise his mission.

Gregorius has, relatively intense, paranoia, made worse as the years pass him by. He lived most of his life guarding the palace, or securing the Dark Cells. He was taught to see weaknesses everywhere and ensure that they were reinforced and secured. Still to this day Gregorius sees eyes in the shadows, weaknesses in defences and plotting from those he questions. This has caused him to be critical, careful and overly paranoid even in his own quarters. The only person who is a little more relaxed around is Captain Malaika Keita...his pilot.

Gregorius is a large man. Even without his old armour he can never truly blend in. This means that trying to blend in with a group of mortals is extremely hard and stealth is almost an impossibility for him. When it comes to infiltration, stealth, or blending in Gregorius has to rely on other people, or pose as some sort of mutant, which he isn't greatest fan of doing.

Despite his appearance Gregorius is an old man. Over six millenniums of life has let him see the galaxy, and much of what hides within it. He occasionally forgets that it is the 42nd millennium and the times he grew up in are long since gone. His trust of Astartes is still a little uneasy however. He remembers those Custodes who had seen the Horus Heresy and had been told the tales of Astartes turning on the Imperium. Moreover, those Astartes who disguise their chapter markings are deeply distrusted by Gregorius...what's to say they don't belong to one of the Emperor damned heretical legacies?

Surprisingly for an inquisitor Gregorius doesn't like to throw his authority around. If he can convince someone to do something without having to pull rank he will. Almost all members of his retinue were convinced to join him, and none were ordered through his Inquisitorial authority to join him. Moreover, they are all free to leave at any time, he wouldn't dare order anyone to stay if they did not wish.

A powerful enough electro magnetic pulse can disable Gregorius' cybernetic eyes. If this occurs it renders him completely blind. The only way for the man to recover from this is a complete and total restart of both cybernetic eyes. This renders him blind for five minutes.

## Retinue

* Capt. Malaika Keita - Phantine Air Corps Pilot
* Col. Maria Lezpeta - Sezhran Redemptors Scout Colonel
* Col. Jeriko Hyke - Carnius Ashstriders Anti Armour Specialist
* Cpl. Alfred William Clarke - Praetorian Guard
* Sis. Zillah Scriven - Low Ranking Orders Dialogous Scribe
* Adrián Chisaka - Young Emperor's Blades Deathcult Assassin
* Preacher Leilani Corley - Fresh Faced Ministorum Priest
* Sonia Saleh - Fresh From Training Sanctioned Psyker
* Eun Min-seok - Low Ranking Enginseer Tech-Priest
* Crench Ó Seighin - Newly Qualified Ratling Sniper

## Equipment

### Armour

* **A long heavy black cloak that covers his whole body**
* **A set of black and gold, with red accents, armour plating**

### Used Weapons

* **Mark III Bolt Pistol**
* **Xenophase Blade**
* **Combat Knife**
* **Rad Grenades**

### Munitions

* **Standard Bolts**
* **Hellfire Bolts**
* **Antiphasic Bolts**

### Cybernetics

* **Cybernetic Eyes**
* **Cybernetic Right Lower Lung Lobe**
* **Left Foot**
* **Mind Impulse Unit**

### Familiar

* **Servo Shroud-Skull**
* **Servo Skull Probe**
* **Psyber-Eagle**

### Vehicles

* **Gun-Cutter** - Gregorius' personal vehicle is a dark matte grey customised gun-cutter by the name of 'Imperatoris Umbra' (The Emperor's Shadow). While he normally requests a lift from a larger Imperial craft to get between planets Imperatoris Umbra is his constant ship

## Relations

### Friends/Allies

* **Ordo Xenos**
* **Inquisition**
* **Deathwatch**
* **Adeptus Custodes**

## Quotes

### By:

"*I do not wish to fight you today, or any day, good sir. However, I strongly suggest you lower your weapon before you force me to action.*"
—Gregorius upon having an guardsmen officer draw his weapon during a meeting
"*Silence yourself. If I wanted to hear your protests I would ask for them. Your insults and curses mean nothing to me. However, my friends here may take offence.*"
—Gregorius upon being called a throne abandoned mutant abomination one too many times.
"*Please...I am just an inquisitor. The title of Lord Inquisitor holds no meaning here, you hold command within this ship not I. Although I would be appreciative if you could breath. You appear to be turning blue.*"
—Gregorius upon a ship captain repeatedly referring to him as a Lord Inquisitor.
"*I am just a fellow Inquisitior...no lord. My title is simply one of convenience and usefulness. Please address me as you would a peer.*"
—Gregorius upon another Inquisitor calling him Lord Inquisitor