Caellumis

Remembrancer's portrait of Regulus Caellumis.

Regulus **Caellumis** is a former Chapter Master of the Nemean Lions. Serving during late M38 and early M39, he was responsible for leading the Chapter during most of the Medean Crusade before he fell in battle in 187.M39.

## Background

### Early Years

Born in 395.M39 to a family of the *Sentinels of Mytikas* tribe, Caellumis was an unremarkable child, not the strongest, swiftest or bravest amongst the tribe's young. He did however possess a streak of stubbornness that saw him slowly rise to the top of the pack, pushing to win when those around him tired and gave up. It was this stubborn streak and will to win that drove him through the initiation trials. During his trials as an neophyte, he stumbled across a Leonis cub that had been abandoned by its mother and adopted it for his own. Such an act was deemed beyond foolhardy, for no Leonis had ever been tamed, but was initially permitted as the beast was small and the Astartes reasoned that it could join the Bestiarium before it became too dangerous. Despite these reservations however, Caellumis persisted with his attempts, enduring scratches, bites and attempted disembowelment by the beast which rapidly was growing to unwieldy sizes. The current Regulus was about to order the leonis caged when Caellumis abruptly appeared in the feasting hall with the beast calmly prowling at his side. The methods that finally tamed the beast, Caellumis never revealed, taking the secret to his grave. Such an act immediately marked Caellumis out as a man to watch within the Chapter, and the Regulus would keep a watchful eye on his career as it progresses.

### Ascension to Regulus

Caellumis rose steadily through the ranks, serving as an Dekarchos in the 11th Speria, then an Eparchos in the 4th Speria before being assigned as Hekaton of the 2nd Speria. Shortly after his 300th year as an Astartes, the Regulus was slain on Sebastus IV by an Iron Warriors warband. As the highest ranking Hekaton present, Caellumis was sworn in as the new Regulus for the remainder of the campaign, a decision ratified by the rest of the Chapter upon their return to Caelus Prime.

Caellumis did not sit idle for long, leading the Chapter to Medusa when it came under siege during the 10th Black Crusade. He remained in the area for quite some time, chasing after warbands of traitor Astartes which had not retreated into the Eye of Terror. Afterwards he returned to Caelus Prime briefly to gather replacements before leading a series of strikes against the Greenskins of the coreward border of the Aeaean Cluster which had become bold and encroached into Imperial territory.

### Medean Crusade

In 112.M39, the Waaaghs of Warbosses Darrioz & Xerkzez were launched into the rimward flank of the Aeaean Cluster, ravaging deep into the Sector. Caellumis lead a series of counter attacks to blunt these offensives, eventually stalling the Orks in the battle of Mytikas Plateau with the aid of an awakened Strategos Shaka. He then mustered the Chapter for the Medean Crusade, leading them out as part of the Crusade's forces to retake lost ground. After a series of hard fought victories over the greenskins, Caellumis was lured into a trap by Xerkzez and separated from most of his warriors and the bulk of his Lion Guard. Assailed by a horde of Ork warriors Caellumis fought valiantly but was outmatched. Xerkzez dealt a mortal blow to the Regulus, but could not savour his victory for long; for the Leonis, its fury unmatched by seeing its master fall, set upon the Warboss and dealt him grievous injuries with its mighty claws. With the rest of the Nemeans breaking through the trap and the wrathful beast protecting his prize, Xerkzez was forced to retreat without any trophies, robbed of a total victory. Nonetheless he had dealt a great blow to the Chapter, for they had lost not just their leader but a great warrior.

Caellumis' body was returned to Caelus Prime and cremated as per Nemean tradition. His Leonis, maimed in final battle and refusing to leave it's master's side, lay beside the pyre and finally succumbed to its wounds, its vigil complete.

## Personality

Caellumis was a stubborn and quick tempered youth, something that his initiation did little to dampen. Never shying from a fight, he often lead from the front, tackling enemy commanders head on to splinter their focus. While the logisticians of the Chapter despaired at his indifference to their craft, focusing almost exclusively on the next battle, his combat record was highly respected. Caellumis was extremely popular at gatherings of the Chapter ad events such as the Feast of Blades, where he would spar with other Chapter Masters and sing Caelusian war-poetry in a deep booming voice.

## Appearance

Caellumis possessed the dark skin, black hair, and brown eyes that are typical to the people of Caelus Prime. Like all of the warriors of Caelus, he bore ritual tattoos on his face and body that displayed his status and history. Caellumis wore an ornate suit of relic Mk III armour, with a finely crafted helm adorned with a sculpted lion visage on the brow.

## Wargear

* **Spear of Mytikas** - Based upon a typical hunting spear, Caellumis requested a lengthened version from the Techmarines, reinforced and fitted with a powered blade.
* **Falcata** - A short power sword with a recurved blade, based upon ancient weapons crafted by the earlier settlers. While largely ceremonial, it is nonetheless a formidable back up weapon.
* **Aspetos Nemea** - A relic suit of Mk III 'Iron' Armour.
* **Aspis Medeanis** - A large, round shield.