Aetha Solexan

**This article, Aetha Solexan, was written by StealthyFiddle. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Character

### **Language(s)**

High Gothic,
 Low Gothic,
 Occludian

### **Role(s)**

1st Company Veteran,
 War-Gheist

## Physical Description

### **Weight**

750 Pounds (340 Kilograms) Unarmored
1146.4 Pounds (520 Kilograms) Power Armor
1764 Pounds (800 Kilograms) Cataphractii Terminator Armor

**Aetha Solexan** is a Firstborn Veteran, and War-Gheist of the Death Spectres Space Marine Chapter and is serving the Long Vigil with the Deathwatch. Aetha Solexan is a Veteran of many Battles and is one of the most experienced of the Death Spectres' 1st Company. He has suffered many deaths, and from each one he has recovered. To fulfill his Chapter's oath to the Deathwatch, he volunteered to serve the Long Vigil, believing his skills against all the xenos of the Ghoul Stars, alongside his zealousness in battle, would greatly aid the Deathwatch, and increase the prestige of the Death Spectres.

## History

Aetha Solexan was born upon the breeding world of the Death Spectres, and was selected to be inducted into the Chapter. Subjected to the typical trials, and implants, the final and unique trial of the Death Spectres, to die, and return. This trial is without doubt, the hardest for any aspirants of the Death Spectres, for they have no experience with it, and must stumble their way to life again. For Aetha, this trial was difficult beyond measure, taking far longer than usual for an aspirant to finish, he eventually found the willpower and strength to pull himself back from death, and was accepted fully into the Chapter.

Aetha Solexan's first notable campaign was the Macharian Crusade while the Death Spectre's records, and the Imperial records of the Death Spectres' involvement is incomplete, for Aetha Solexan, being able to partake in such a campaign has bestowed a large amount of experience of strategic movement, and to make relationships with other organizations. However, no noteworthy combats have been properly recorded regarding the Death Spectres', and by extension, Aetha Solexan.

Aetha Solexan’s second notable campaign was the Achilus Crusade, during which the Death Spectres sent Astartes to join a crusader company to aid in the retaking of the Jericho Reach. During the Achilus Crusade Aetha excelled in melee, and quickly rose the ranks of the Chapter, and by the end of the Crusade, not only had Aetha gained significant amounts of knowledge, but also experience. Still a line-brother, he was usually the 2nd in command of his squad.

The next notable campaign Aetha partook in, was the Evacuation of the Xin-Cyn research station, in which he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant of his squad. During the Evacuation, Aetha gained even more knowledge of the Tyranid threat, and while he did not partake in the heavy fighting, he still proved able in all his assigned duties.

During the Lazar Blockade, Aetha developed close bonds with Astartes of the Silver Skulls and Howling Griffons. The Blockade of Lazar also gave Aetha the opportunity to study the Necrons and their strategic tendencies. However, after the arrival of another Necron Lord, his squad was deployed in an attempt to aid the Silver Skulls campaign, the attempt, sadly failed, with the Silver Skulls own guns being commandeered and turned on them, killing both the Silver Skulls Chapter Master, and Aetha’s whole squad. For his actions during the Lazar Blockade, and his long service, he was inducted into the War-Gheists of the Death Spectres, the Elite 1st company.

Aetha Solexan’s last notable campaign with the Death Spectres was during the 13th Black Crusade, in which the Death Spectres deployed 6 full companies. The 1st company especially suffered high losses, forcing Aetha back into a leadership position, leading the 1st Squad of the War-Gheists. A position which he did not relish, not due to its prestige, but due to how he acquired it. The loss of much of the War-Gheists rests a heavy hand upon Aetha’s soul, which has led him to turn down captaincy multiple times, believing himself wanting.

## Personality

Aetha Solexan is a very caring Marine, doing all in his power to protect those of his squad and Chapter. However, due to his caring attitude, he quickly turns to anger when those he cares for are injured. However, due to his age and experience, he has learned to temper his rage to be little more than an afterthought. For he knows that should any of his brothers fall in combat, they will be reborn by the Emperor’s side. Due to his chapter’s reverence of death, his armor typically is adorned with many instances of the Marashim, the Salute of Skull and Throne. It is also due to his beliefs that he would willingly wade through any foe to his death, should it allow his brothers time to escape.

## Appearance

Aetha Solexan, is of typical build for an Astartes, and for an Astartes of the Death Spectres. Of extremely pale complexion, Aetha suffers from albinism, like all of his chapter, and is bald as well. However, he usually uses these mutations to his advantage, having a Skull tattooed onto his face, when he needs to instill fear, all he needs to do is remove his helmet, and become a literal Gheist.

## Abilities and Traits

Aetha Solexan has carefully developed his abilities over his long service to the Death Spectres, he has mastered combat both in Power Armor, and in Terminator Armor, with Ranged and with Melee. However, he has developed favorite methods of war, specifically involving the War-Gheists special weapon, the Power Scythe. His aptitude with a Power Scythe is immense, able to use it to great effect in most scenarios. However, he acknowledges that it would be foolish to be without a ranged weapon, and as such has elected to utilize a Tigrus pattern Bolter as his dedicated ranged weapon, even when other, more powerful weaponry is available.

## Equipment

Aetha Solexan has, over the centuries, slowly chosen his preferred weaponry, and after his induction into the War-Gheists, has been given access to the Chapter’s most prized relics. The piece of Wargear that Aetha chose was a suit of Relic Terminator Armor.

The Suit of Terminator armor is an ancient and terrible relic of the past. Named ‘Istvaan’s Gheist’, this suit of Terminator armor is incredibly blood thirsty and belligerent, seeking the enemies of mankind with a bloodlust only the most scarred Machine Spirit could. This suit of armor was present upon Istvaan V during the Dropsite Massacre, and was reforged in the blood of the Raven Guard Legion. The suit of Power Armor thus could only be wielded by the most willful and vengeful of the Raven Guard, eventually being passed onto the Death Spectres for some unknown reason. Aetha Solexan has taken up this cursed suit of armor for his personal Panoply of War, and has both come to appreciate the armor, and feel sorrow for it’s broken spirit.

Besides this ancient suit of armor, Aetha elects to use his Masterwork Power Scythe, ‘Comprime’, a weapon he has been utilizing since his induction into the War-Gheists, he has become extremely proficient with it, and is rarely seen without it.

* ***Istvaan's Gheist*** - Relic Cataphractii Pattern Terminator Armor.
* ***Comprime*** - Masterwork Power Scythe
* **Tigrus Pattern Bolter**
* **Crux Terminatus**
* **Auspex**
* **Luminator Signal Flares**
* **Photon Beam Searchlight**