Callidor Wyvan

**Callidor Wyvan** is a Swordsmaster Lieutenant of the Soaring Gryphons Chapter of Adeptus Astartes and a member of the Deathwatch. A valiant warrior hailing from the House of Wyvan, Callidor is known for his skill with his two-handed greatsword, which he calls 'Torvar', after his dead brother, and his ability to improvise in combat, though sometimes to the chagrin of his more traditional-minded superiors.

## History

### Youth

Callidor was born on the Soaring Gryphon's home planet of Reimunda, allegedly born from an extra-marital affair between his Wyvan mother Iris and a young noble from the Caerin house. Although these rumours had not been confirmed, it led to a strained relationship with those in his family who believed them. However, he made a great strong bond of friendship with the second heir of the Wyvan house, Torvar Wyvan. Callidor and Wyvan trained, worked and played together, a seemingly inseparable pair. They engaged in many youthful antics, and would always be seen punished together for such things. Torvar was a prodigy which Callidor tried to exceed, although Callidor sometimes shirked his training and duties to lounge about.

The long history of the Soaring Gryphons and the many deeds and exploits, which were recorded and made into tapestries, stained glass windows and recited in poems, all made an impression on Torvar and Callidor, who were most eager to become Astartes themselves. When they were 14, they both wanted to become Soaring Gryphons, protectors of Reimunda and the Imperium, and they were accepted as aspirants into the Soaring Gryphons. Callidor himself had a very difficult time as an aspirant, his confidence fading every time he found himself falling behind his fellow aspirants. He often relied on Torvar to aid him through those trying times. His performance was noticed by the Soaring Gryphons, and he told that he would be sent back to his household if he couldn't handle it further. Callidor tried to persevere, but even he felt that he was unable to match the others, especially Torvar, who found himself becoming an icon among his fellow aspirants, and was even praised by the Chapter Master himself.

However, the main trial before the aspirants would receive any surgery and augmentation would soon change the fate of Callidor and Torvar. Callidor and Torvar were chosen to be wing-brothers together, but they had to prove themselves by hunting down a gryphon nest and retrieving an egg from it, so it could he hatched and trained to serve alongside the chapter. Callidor and Torvar were eager to face this challenge together, but Callidor was still worried about his own ability, and felt that he had to show Torvar that he can excel him. Callidor tried to take the more dangerous duties, even if it led to needless injury, like when Callidor and Torvar were hunting, and Callidor rushed in to slay a beast, before Torvar could actually assess the situation, leading to Callidor taking an injury and the beast escaping. Callidor insisted he was fine, and even shouted at Torvar when he tried to give assistance.

Eventually, the two found the gryphon nest, and helped each other climb the huge trees native to Reimunda to reach the nest and find one of the eggs. However, the nest's mother returned with food, and the two were attacked by her. Callidor was grabbed by the shoulders by her claws, and was flown around the canopy, trying not to let go of the gryphon as he was bombarded by sticks and branches. He then clambered up the gryphon, and, returning the favour, tried to tug at her feathers to steer her. Eventually, the two crashed into a tree, breaking the gryphon's left wings and letting Callidor escape her grasp. However, he and Torvar realized that they still wouldn't be safe with her around, so they resolved to incapacitate her. However, as Torvar and Callidor approached the gryphon, they were met with a vicious attack, with the gryphon mother mauling Torvar. When the gryphon faced Callidor, who had already been injured, Callidor was utterly mortified, and was almost resolved to let the gryphon kill him. However, he also felt that he had to follow this through, and rushed to grab Torvar's makeshift spear. Callidor faced the mother gryphon in single combat, eventually killing her by shoving the spear down her throat, piercing through her.

But Callidor had no time to triumph, as Torvar was wounded fatally. Callidor tried to help, but Torvar was too bloody and mauled. Although he may have been saved by an apothecary, the two were nowhere near society, and therefore Torvar died in Callidor's arms, with Callidor weeping by his brother's side. Torvar's last words were 'I believe in you, brother'. And Callidor realized he was now alone. Taking a day to recuperate his wounds, Callidor took time to bury Torvar's body. He then decided to retrieve one of the three gryphon eggs. However, Callidor decided to retrieve all three of them, wondering whether the other two would survive without their mother. After creating a pulley system to lower the eggs down, and later a makeshift wagon to haul them, Callidor made his way back to the Fortress Monastery.

When Callidor returned, he feared that he would be sent away from the aspirant trials for letting his battle-brother die. Although the grievous news of Torvar's death did shake the hearts of the Wyvans, and perhaps even the Chapter Master, Callidor was not turned away, not only because he brought back three gryphon eggs, but he also stayed on his course despite losing a dear friend. Although he was deeply bereaved by the death of his friend, Callidor found new resolve to become a Soaring Gryphon.

## Personality

Callidor, like many of his fellow Soaring Gryphons, adhere to a great sense of nobility and chivalry. However, Callidor is much less stoic than others in his chapter. He's not arrogant, but he does like to seek glory in battle, and wishes for his legacy to last. He has a boisterous attitude and is quite emotional. He also has a sense of wit and humour, and likes to taunt his opponents when he engages in combat. He is not ascetic, and enjoys thrills and excitement.

However, Callidor is his own greatest critic, and holds himself to a high standard in battle. Moreover, he doesn't take the loss of his comrades as well as others, and will often put himself in great risk to save them, even if the odds are heavily stacked against him. When a comrade does die, it takes a while for Callidor to properly regain his spirit.

## Wargear & Equipment

* **MK10 Power Armour**
* '**Torvar'**- Callidor, in remembrance of Torvar, named his two-handed power sword after his fallen brother Torvar. Callidor's fighting style while using Torvar includes a mix of light and heavy strikes, all forming a deadly dance of death.
* **'Bolter Pistol'**- Callidor may specialize in melee assault, but he is not unwilling to pull out his gun when need be.

## Appearance

Callidor, before his acceptance into the Deathwatch, wore the traditional livery and insignia of his battle-brothers, with his helmet, chest-plate, gauntlets, shins, knee-pads, thigh-guards and shoulder-pad trims a dark cerulean blue, with the rest being brown. Callidor, due to his distinction, got four white stripes added to his chestplate, sloping down and inwards like a 'V'. Moreover, he keeps small trinkets from his great foes on him, like teeth from an Ork, a Tau hoof and the broken Rosarius of a heretical ecclesiarch (which he had to do much pleading to keep).

When Callidor joined the Deathwatch, he donned thejet black colour scheme of his chapter, with the left shoulder-plate and arm of electro-plated silver. Although he kept most of his trinkets, except the Rosarius, the greatest gift is the hide of a powerful gryphon he slew in single combat during his ceremony to begin serving the Long Vigil. He wears it over his shoulder, a constant reminder of where he heralds from.