Xann Vakosa

> "In the realm of darkness, I am the harbinger of twilight. Fear not the night my children, for it is within the shadows that true power lies."
>
>

## Character

### Title(s)

Vakosa of the Noctis, The Dormio Moritan, The Malak'el-Mawtii, The Umbral Monarch, The Angel of Death, The Lady of Death

### Aliases

The Shadowed Dawn (By The Ist Legion), The Dark Sun, Lady Ravima'lákh (By the Seraphim), Shadow Princess (By most Imperials), The Shade Wreath, Corvus Mother

### Language(s)

High Argothic, Multiple Low Argothic Languages, Multiple Xenos Languages

## Physical Description

### Weight

754 (Unarmored)1300 (Armored)

Renowned as **Xann Vakosa of the Noctis** or simply **Vakosa Noctis**, but better known as the **"Dormio Moritan"**, the name she mostly preferred. Amongst the Emperors Luminarchs, she was also known by various titles such as the **"Umbral Monarch,"** the **"Malak'el-Mawtii,"** and the chilling epithet of the **"Lady of Death."** This formidable individual was one of the select 20 superhuman Luminarchs created by the Emperor of Mankind in the late 90th Millennium, destined for greatness. As the master of the Legio Corvorum Mortis Imperial Legion and the crowned Matriarch of the Blades Moritan, her presence commanded fear and awe.

From her earliest days, Vakosa grappled with the torments of her psychic powers, tormented by haunting visions of the future. This burden of psychic anguish and despair set her apart from her peers, making her a singular figure among the Luminarchs upon her rediscovery by the Stellar Imperium. These dark premonitions granted her a unique insight into the tides of fate, though at a great personal cost.

However, it was Vakosa Noctis's unparalleled prowess as a cunning huntress that truly distinguished her. She understood the art of utilizing fear and misdirection as the most potent weapons in her arsenal, imparting this wisdom to her loyal Angelus '*sons*.' With a ferocity matched only by her strategic brilliance, she instilled in them a ruthless and savage nature, empowering them to eradicate any adversary that dared to oppose them. As the master of the Legio Corvorum Imperial Legion, her methods proved devastatingly effective in bringing down her enemies.

Beneath the surface of her fearsome reputation, Vakosa possessed a remarkable capacity for compassion and empathy that was further prospered during her tutelage under her Brother Luminarch Llucerian Morningstar. Taught to recognize that there were moments when showing mercy to her foes served a higher purpose, demonstrating a depth of character that earned her the reverence and admiration of her followers. Her discerning wisdom and keen insight garnered respect from all who stood in her presence.

In the ever-shifting tapestry of war and conquest, Vakosa Noctis stood as a beacon of strength, embodying the delicate balance between ruthlessness and compassion. Her path was one of constant struggle, both against external threats and the inner demons that haunted her existence. Yet, through it all, she remained resolute, guided by her unwavering determination to shape the destiny of the Imperium and protect those entrusted to her care.

## History

### The Coming of Vakosa

Xann Vakosa like the rest of Her brethren had been separated from the Emperor while still in an embryonic and psionically-formless state, whilst within the Emperors gene-laboratories hidden under the Imperial Palace deep within the Kilaminjanto (Kilamanjaro) Mountains, it would be that by unknown forces the infant Luminarch's gestation chamber was emptied and her essence flung through the Void hundreds of lightyears across the galaxy. Xann Vakosa like the rest of her brethren had been spiritually inseminated into a Mortal Human Mother, and was eventually born in the lightless chambers far beneath the surface of a barren world known to Imperial Scribes as Astraeus.

The history of Astraeus is a tragic one, filled with darkness and decay. Once a thriving Agri-world, the planet now exists in a state of perpetual darkness, its inhabitants forced to eke out a living in the shadow of a dying sun. The once-beautiful planet became utterly plagued by necromancer cults, hordes of undead, and malevolent beastial entities that roam the dark streets of the once great spire cities.

The bulk of these cities are laid out vertically, with newer areas built atop the old. At the lowest level of the Under-Spires are the fossils of Old Astraeus, a vestige of the world’s past that was later burned and abandoned due to the first outbreaks of the Plague of Beasts. Above it lies Central Astraeus, the home to the worlds main population centers, and the Singing Wards, the headquarters of the Church of Martyrs.

At the highest levels of these spire cities are the Singing Wards, areas controlled by the Choir, a secretive branch of the Church of Martyrs that seeks to contact the Great Ones of Old, so that they may bring healing to their ailing world. The vast majority of the population lives in abject poverty, toiling away in decrepit settlements while the rich exploit their labors and grow ever more affluent.

Even with the beasts that wander the Spire streets, Crime is rampant, and the streets are filled with the desperate and the downtrodden. Clinical depression is pervasive, as the perpetual darkness takes its toll on the mental health of the population. Overpopulation is also a constant threat, with suicide often seen as a more viable option than trying to eke out a meager existence in the harsh world of Astraeus.

Despite all these challenges, the people of Astraeus continue to cling to hope. They draw strength from each other, forming tight-knit communities that offer support and solidarity in the face of the many hardships they face. And even in the darkest of times, there are those who refuse to give up, who fight back against the forces of darkness that seek to consume their world.

These men and women who refuse to yield to the morose call of the darkness are the hunters, a sect of warriors in nightmare clad, they wade their ways through the streets of the spire cities in their nightly hunts. These hunters of Astraeus are a sight to behold as they traverse the darkened spire cities with an eerie grace, their darkened armor and crow-black cloaks blending in with the shadows. They move silently and swiftly, their senses honed to detect any hint of danger in the darkness. Their weapons are designed for maximum efficiency, fashioned from the most durable and deadly materials available.

Despite both the dangers that lurk around every corner, and the virulent hate arrayed against them by the Church of Martyrs, the hunters of Astraeus remain steadfast in their duty to protect their people. They are the guardians of the spire cities, the defenders of the weak, and the scourge of the foul creatures that infest their world. They are respected and revered by the people they protect, who look to them as symbols of hope in the face of the unrelenting darkness.

### Raised by Darkness

The conception of the infant Luminarchs had changed each of their homeworlds forever, but few would be transformed so profoundly and changed for the better than the shade wreathed planet of Astraeus. The world the Luminarch inherited was that of the vast underspires of Central Astraeus - a realm of eternal, stygian darkness, choking pollution and endemic, institutionalized crime whist being beset by terrible cults, hordes of ghastly undead, and malignant entities; descriptions which certainly can not apply to the Astraeus known by the wider Stellar Imperium in the modern day.

In her descent, Vakosa's psionic form had pulled brutally against the etheric void as it ripped through from distant Terra by unseen machinations, and her coming had heavily impacted the gestalt energies surrounding the world and as she was spiritually inseminated into her mortal mother within the dense cityscape of the planet's largest spire city of Central Astraeus, a void-rift would be sent in waves smashing against the atmosphere of the world. With countless levels of urban debris and ancient architecture being rocked through as the bones of Old Astraeus were visible through the many layers - sending ripples through the planet's crust and into its geosphere before finally coming to a halt near the highly unstable liquid core of the planet.

The details of Vakosa's birth and the identity of her mortal mother have remained shrouded in mystery, woven and forgotten within the intricate tapestry of Astraeus' ancient history. Though Imperial Historians tirelessly delved into countless scrolls and records, in search of the elusive truth that lay hidden amidst the veils of time. Some accounts whispered of her being abandoned amidst the towering spires of Astraeus, left to navigate the shadowed alleys and treacherous streets of a world bereft of light. Others spoke of her mother's tragic demise shortly before Vakosa's birth, leaving her to enter the realm of darkness unaccompanied. And then there were those who told tales of her ethereal origins, of a being who materialized into existence with the rise of the fearsome Void-Rift, defying mortal understanding.

Regardless of the conflicting narratives, what remains irrefutable is that Vakosa's early years were cloaked in solitude, her fragile existence intertwined with the inky blackness of Astraeus. With no family or companions to guide her, she was thrust into a realm where survival demanded unwavering resilience and resourcefulness, where each step she took echoed with the weight of isolation.

#### The Whisper Trials

Within the hallowed pages of the Luminarch's memoirs, penned with meticulous care, the chronicles of Vakosa's turbulent youth unfold like a harrowing tale spun by fate itself. From the moment she drew her first breath in the forsaken depths of Central Astraeus, she was thrust into a world devoid of light and plagued by the lingering echoes of despair. Alone and forsaken, she navigated the unlit streets with the caution of a predator, shrouded in shadows that embraced her like a protective cloak.

The spire slums, once teeming with gangs of abandoned children, offered no solace to the young Vakosa. Rather, she remained hidden from prying eyes, a feral and wary creature who knew the value of survival. The broken buildings and ruined roofs became her sanctuary, where she shivered in the embrace of death's cold cradle. Scavenging for sustenance and slaying those who dared to prey upon her, she defied the odds with a frightful strength that belied her tender age. Her indomitable will, paired with an innate superhuman intelligence, ensured that each encounter became a testament to her relentless spirit.

In the eerie stillness of her existence, the cries of tortured souls pierced the air, their haunting melodies serving as lullabies to her tormented soul. Slumber embraced her weary form, transporting her into dreams where distant stars illuminated vibrant worlds of boundless possibilities. She would envision golden cities, adorned with warm smiles and welcoming embraces, worlds she had never set foot upon. Yet, as dawn broke and reality shattered her fragile reverie, she awoke to the anguished screams of the dying, thrusting her back into the grim realization of her desolate reality.

In the perpetual embrace of darkness, isolated and silent, Vakosa became more akin to a living nightmare than the regal demi-god she would later become. Her survival depended on her ability to kill, as she discovered the stark contrast between her innate prowess and the feeble weaknesses of men and monsters alike. With swift and brutal precision, she dispatched her adversaries, her hands, fists, and teeth serving as instruments of retribution. In her quest for sustenance, she devoured the flesh of vermin, the gnawing hunger a constant companion. And when desperation eclipsed all else, she was forced to consume the deceased, a macabre feast that sustained her against the abyss of hunger.

Amidst this cauldron of sin, she learned, her mind drawing whispered thoughts from the very flesh she consumed. Watching the ceaseless ebb and flow of humanity around her, she studied their ways, their speech, and the artistry of murder. Each encounter, each stolen fragment of darkness, became another piece of her savage tutelage. As only the mind of a transhuman Luminarch could, she assimilated the teachings of the shadows, absorbing the depth of their wicked knowledge. Yet, the product of this savage education was not a mere murderer or monstrous beast. Vakosa emerged as a force unto herself, an embodiment of merciless precision and cunning intellect.

Until that fateful day, cherished by the Legio Mortis as the *"Black Rebirth,"* when the currents of destiny converged upon her. Immersed in the ancient rituals of the hunt, the veil of night draped heavily upon Astraeus. In that sacred moment, Vakosa's life would be forever altered as a seasoned and revered hunting party, led by the indomitable Elder Huntress Euphemia Wisper, embarked on a perilous quest to obliterate a criminal cult that ensnared the hearts of the innocent.

But the threads of fate unraveled in unforeseen patterns, as the darkness begrudgingly released its grip, unveiling a sight beyond the wildest imaginings of the hunters. Standing before them, cloaked in an aura of ethereal shadow, was a young girl poised on the precipice of womanhood. Her very presence resonated with a power that transcended the realm of mortals, an enigma forged in the crucible of the void.

Awe and reverence settled upon the hunting party, their voices stolen by the spectacle that unfolded before their incredulous eyes. Vakosa unleashed a torrent of unbridled fury upon a ferocious pack of beastmen, her bare hands becoming instruments of divine retribution. She tore through their flesh, rending their demonic-infused sinew and shattering their reinforced bones, shaping their once formidable frames into grotesque sculptures of agony.

Yet, amidst the unleashed might and raw power, Vakosa's lack of refinement and control cast a shadow of vulnerability. Her lithe form bore the scars of overexertion, wounds etched upon her flesh as reminders of her untamed spirit. Fate hovered on the precipice, eager to claim her life, its scythe poised to sever the delicate thread that held her existence. But destiny had other plans, for the hunters, moved by her indomitable will and supernormal prowess, chose to embrace the newfound luminary as they casted fire upon the beastmen - knocking them low in an attempt to save her. They offered her solace within their ranks, recognizing the latent potential she possessed.

Under the watchful gaze of Elder Huntress Euphemia, Vakosa's journey embarked upon an unforeseen trajectory. The once solitary survivor now found herself embraced by a brotherhood of warriors, where she would learn the sacred art of the hunt. Her innate abilities honed, her instincts sharpened, and her understanding of the world expanded beneath the patient guidance of her mentor. Each passing day brought her closer to her true self, as she absorbed the collective wisdom of those who had pledged their lives to the dance of shadows.

Yet, even amidst her physical transformation and the acquisition of formidable skills, Vakosa found no respite from the haunting visions that tormented her restless mind. Like spectral phantoms, these prophetic glimpses and grotesque apparitions wove themselves into the very fabric of her consciousness. They whispered of ominous futures and dire portents, casting a pall of uncertainty over her every waking moment. And yet, with unwavering resolve, she stood firm against the relentless onslaught, recognizing that the weight she carried upon her shoulders was not a curse but a mantle of responsibility.

Undeterred by the burden she bore, Vakosa embraced her destiny, for she understood that her role was vital in the battle against the encroaching darkness. Her purpose burned brightly within her, a guiding light amid the vast expanse of the eternal night. With every fiber of her being, she vowed to unveil the hidden light, to cast aside the suffocating veil of despair, and to forge a path where hope could flourish once more. For she was the Dormio Moritan, the Umbral Monarch, and the Lady of Death, a beacon of resilience and defiance against the engulfing shadows. And in her quest, she would forever strive to ignite the flame of salvation within the heart of darkness itself.

#### The Dormio Moritan

> "To hunt is to embark upon a profound journey, delving deep into the intricate fabric of the prey's existence. It is to unravel their vulnerabilities and expose their darkest fears, seizing upon them with unwavering resolve. Let the trembling masses bear witness to the indomitable presence of the Lady of Death, for their paths have converged with their inevitable rendezvous with demise. In the wake of her relentless pursuit, they shall find no solace, no sanctuary, as the inexorable hand of justice tightens its grip. The very essence of their being shall be consumed by the eternal dance between predator and prey, and their futile struggles against the inescapable fate that awaits shall resonate as a haunting requiem."
>
>

One fateful night, during Vakosa's relentless hunts, she bore witness to a Spire Outpost besieged by a horde of fanatical Cultists, accompanied by a retinue of chained Beastmen. The sight of these grotesquely mutated criminals and their savage beasts mercilessly slaughtering innocent civilians ignited a profound indignation within her. And in an instant, driven by an unquenchably silent fury, she descended upon the horde, tearing through their ranks with ruthless determination.

By the time her enemies drew their final breaths, the families huddled in terror within the outpost had fled, their protector now stained with the blood of their assailants. From that moment onward, Vakosa could no longer bear silent witness to the inhuman injustices being perpetrated by man against man. It became her unwavering mission to eradicate such abominations. Those fortunate enough to catch glimpses of her relentless pursuits recounted tales of a creature of nightmares larger than any man, and quicker than any beast - everstalking the shadows and enveloping herself in darkness like a cloak.

She initiated her crusade by leading squads of skilled Hunters, ruthlessly eliminating the few criminals foolish enough to cross their path. Sin had plagued the existences of all born upon Astraeus since the day beasts first took mortal breath, and there was no need to actively seek it out. Murderers and street thugs began to vanish, followed by entire gangs and eventually entire cults.

Lifeless bodies, both human and beast, would appear mutilated and crucified on the walls of buildings. Sheets of bloodied parchment bearing her decrees hung from bridges, while severed heads displayed the crimes of the condemned, grinning ominously from railings.

As she continued her relentless hunt, Vakosa gradually realized that the criminals she had been punishing were mere pawns, taking orders from far more powerful individuals. Over the course of a long and blood-soaked year, Vakosa waged a war against corruption that had insidiously infiltrated every level of society. From the heads of organized crime syndicates to the corrupt law enforcement officials who had forsaken their oaths for personal gain, to the Chaotic Death Cults that had burrowed deep into the fabric of Astraeus, to even Priests of the Church of Martyrs - none were safe from her righteous wrath. Their broken bodies served as gruesome warnings to all who dared violate her law.

A name began to follow Vakosa's deeds, whispered in fearful reverence by the people of her birthworld—a name that carried both dread and hope. And for the first time in her existence, she bore a name: "The Dormio Moritan," a title that struck fear into the hearts of murderers, revered by the innocent as avenging spirits, angels of blind justice. A pack of killers who had themselves learned to fear.

The very murderers who once preyed upon others now found themselves hunted, tormented by the constant fear for their own lives. Desperate, they searched in vain for their tormentors.

The gangs, the enforcers of the nobles, and the crime syndicates alike—all became targets. And this suited the Moritan, for if nothing else, it lured her prey out of hiding. Yet still, they hunted, for a hunter must always hunt.

As the mountains of bodies grew, unimaginable rewards were offered for the heads of these once-revered Hunters, or even for any information that could lead to their capture. But all such attempts proved futile. The Hunters trusted only each other, and Astraeus provided ample shadows in which to conceal themselves.

Vakosa struck down most of those who dared to pursue her, while sparing a select few to carry her message back to Astraeus's nefarious courts and princes. These messengers, mutilated and left without eyes or hands but with their tongues intact, would weep out a simple message:

> "The darkness approaches, and her talons draw near."
>
>

The Dormio Moritan and her retinue would follow the whispers, the rumors, and the truths gleaned from the mouths of flayed gang members. What began as small acts of vigilante justice soon escalated. They intervened whenever they witnessed an injustice, no matter how small, and gradually progressed to hunting down those known to have committed past transgressions.

At first, it was the disappearance of prominent figures within Central Astraeus' corrupt civic hierarchy. The leaders of the most vocal opposition to the prevailing status quo vanished under similar circumstances. The bodies of known criminals started appearing, their corpses resembling fish gutted by a cruel hand. Corrupt officials were found hanging from high windows, while the bodies of ferocious beasts blocked stormwater drains. Many of the victims were so brutally beaten that identification became impossible.

Within a year, the crime rate in Central Astraeus plummeted to near-zero. The Moritan and her followers relentlessly executed their mission, leaving behind a city silenced by both fear and reverence. Their names echoed through the streets, whispered like a prayer for justice, a plea from the oppressed to their deathly saviors. The criminal elements of an entire world had been forced into submission through sheer terror.

When the cities slumbered in peaceful silence, with the rare murmur of gunfire, the Moritan's loyal followers confronted the aristocracy of sin at their mistress's command. They presented them with a choice—kneel and embrace her righteous laws or face utter destruction. Some met their end at their first councils, while the rest bowed before their formidable mistress.

Astraeus now belonged to the Dormio Moritan. She would become their first queen, their "Umbral Monarch," and the first absolute ruler that Astraeus had ever known.

### The Umbral Monarch

Under the watchful rule of the Dormio Moritan, Central Astraeus flourished as she absorbed the wealth of knowledge amassed within its walls, her hunger for understanding almost insatiable. With a rare blend of temperance and reason, she governed with an unprecedented level of wisdom, ensuring justice prevailed. At the slightest hint of injustice, word would reach her ears, and without hesitation, she would embark on a relentless pursuit alongside her envoy of skilled huntsmen through the winding streets of the spire city. The offender, pursued relentlessly, would eventually succumb to exhaustion, and be captured, never to be seen again, locked away within the impenetrable walls of the Moritan Manor, which now stood as the grand citadel at the heart of the Spire City.

This delicate balance of benevolent wisdom and dark retribution ushered the Astraean populace into an era of unprecedented efficiency and honesty. The export of adamantine, their most prized resource, to neighboring worlds soared to unimaginable heights, tripling the previous levels. Astraean society found equilibrium in a shared wealth, enforced by a pervasive sense of fear. None dared to possess more than their neighbor, for the shadow of the Dormio Moritan's rule loomed over all. As Central Astraeus thrived, the rest of the planet's population followed suit, eager to maintain the Moritan's favor and protect themselves from her potent justice.

As the solar decades passed, the need for her personal hunts diminished, for the city she had shaped had become a beacon of progress and prosperity. Vakosa's once humble abode had transformed into a bustling spire, illuminated by the radiance of advancement. Decades had passed since the last crime had been committed, as the Hunters of the Moritan had diligently integrated the orphans born of their work into their ranks, arming them with the world's bolstered production. These loyal disciples, known as the Dormio Elite, formed a formidable police force under the leadership of the Moritan herself.

Emerging from the confines of the Moritan Manor, the Elite army swiftly eradicated the remnants of any lingering criminal activity. The people, well aware of their ruler's superhuman abilities and unwavering commitment to vengeance, found solace in their fear. The last vestiges of resistance crumbled under the weight of the salvation offered by the Dormio Moritan.

Astraeus continued to engage in the time-honored tradition of trading its abundant adamantine with neighboring star systems, a practice that had sustained the planet for generations. However, under the unwavering lordship of the Dormio Moritan, planetary exports reached unprecedented levels, accompanied by soaring profits. The city's foundries and forges blazed with intensified heat, refining their resources to perfection. Expansive refineries and processing plants sprawled across the urban landscape, while mines delved ever deeper into the priceless crust of Astraeus, unearthing its hidden treasures. The Dormio Moritan's reign had brought forth a golden age of prosperity, where the planet's resources were harnessed to their fullest potential, illuminating the path to an even brighter future.

### The Coming of the Imperial Dawn

In the boundless depths of her consciousness, Xann Vakosa foresaw the impending arrival of a cataclysmic event that would engulf her world in a tempest of solar fire. These revelations, as they often did, unfolded within her waking dreams, a realm where her transhuman senses flourished beyond anything she had ever imagined possible.

With each passing day, Vakosa sensed herself evolving, ripening, maturing into the being she was destined to become. And when the Imperial Expeditions finally reached Astraeus, initially drawn by tales of its abundant reserves of adamantine, they discovered a world that thrived under the rule of a being endowed with supernatural abilities.

Llucerian Morningstar, the Luminarch of the Sons of The Morning Imperial Legion, observed Astraeus from the sanctuary of his Throne-Ship, concealed amidst the cradle of space. The citizens of Astraeus were orderly and efficient, united in their pursuit of a common good. Intrigued, Llucerian decided to land on the planet, arriving alone and unarmed, infiltrating the Moritan Manor to seek out his wayward sister.

As he wandered the shadowed halls of the Manor, guided by his Luminarchal aura, Llucerian eventually found himself within the sacred Throneroom of the Umbral Monarch. There, his golden eyes met his sister's own luminous gaze, and an innate kinship between the two Demi-Gods instantly formed.

For hours, they conversed within the Throne-Room, the nature of their discussion veiled in mystery. However, what is known is that Llucerian's words touched the depths of his sister's heart, resonating with her very essence. Though ignorant of the glory of the Stellaris Imperium, Vakosa recognized the authority she possessed and the unwavering respect she commanded within her society. She had shaped Astraeus into a model of unmatched productivity, natural conformity, and absolute *obedience*.

Over the following months, as they awaited the arrival of the Emperor, Llucerian and Vakosa deepened their bond. Llucerian spoke passionately about their father's grand mission to unite the scattered worlds of mankind under Imperial Law, an aspect that held great appeal to the justice-driven Moritan. In return, Llucerian discovered his sister's gift for precognition and her ability to commune with the unseen, even though she had yet to harness these abilities fully.

When the Emperor finally arrived on Astraeus, a palpable sense of anticipation and awe filled the air. The people, so accustomed to darkness, were at once dazzled by the sheer radiance that had been Llucerian's very own being and his sparking golden eyes - easily made worse by the coming of First Legion Angelus arrayed in their armor of ivory and off-white when Vakosa wished for Marines of the First to train her own Elite Forces. But the true spectacle was yet to come.

The sky opened high above Astraeus, and from it spilled the radiant hull of the Merkabah, resplendent against the backdrop of darkness and followed closely behind by the capital ships of the IIth, IVth and XVIIIth Legions - The Welcome procession was one of awe to the people still reeling from the sight of the First Legion. Cities laid silent as the shining titans of Angelus and Seraphim walked in Parade Standard.

The city wept at what was remembered as the *"Solar Coronation,"* weeping collectively, every man, woman and child gathered in the streets, their pale faces staring at the strangers in their midst, as the sky was brightened by the false stars of voidship engines.

Most wept as the healing light the Emperor projected reflected off the rain-slicked streets into their faces. The strangers walked in a slow, regal parade. The ground trembled, quite literally, with their rhythmic tread. They walked in great, grinding phalanxes, arrayed within different formations - Marines of purple accented by black walked side by side with their cousins of gray and crimson and those of green emboldened by sigils of a fiery countenance as they were lead by the resplendent forms of silver arrayed in otherworldly void fire.

Giants led them. Giants towering above their warriors, just as their warriors towered above mortal men. Leading the giants was a sun incarnated in human skin; a god in a man's flesh; his soul-fire just as uncontainable in a sheath of flesh and bone as the Silver titans own within forms of metal. Those brave enough to look upon Him directly were blinded for daring to gaze at His radiant countenance.

Those afflicted spent the rest of their lives sightless but for the image of the living god flash-flamed into their dead retinas. At the end of the broad road leading to the Moritan Manor deep within the city's heart, Vakosa stood, waiting for the delegation to approach.

The army of strangers ceased as one, every single one of the million soldiers standing motionless in the same moment. The three giants stepped forwards. The blazing god led them.

Llucerian stood arrayed in his own parade dress - ivory armor of a more formal bearing than that of his normal panoply that shimmered just as brightly in the darkness as the raiments of the armaments of his brothers. He stood at the head of his Legion - his warriors arrayed in parade rows of reverential silence in front of the Manor. Stances in which were mimicked by the Moritan’s Elite - as the mortal and Marine forces had grown accustomed to each other during the previous months of down time. The ivory lines of the First Legion interlaced by the black and mauve of the Moritans own, left silent before the Emperor and the assembly of forces.

Vakosa stood at Llucerian’s side at the head of the arraignment - wearing the finery of an Astraen Noble-woman, her shade black hair was cropped finely under the mentorial discretion of both Llucerian and Euphemia, as her umbral shawl was draped over her shoulders - its inky black feathers shining in the pale light.

As Vakosa approached her father and brothers in a humble display of reverence, she was accompanied by Llucerian and their respective entourages. The Emperor was silent as his rediscovered daughter conversed with her brother Luminarchs. The first to speak, a Demigod arrayed in riveted armor of silver and crimson inclined his crowned head of blonde locks gilded by golden laurels - yet his blue eyes were cold and distant as he looked upon his sister, like that of a Predator over an Equal. He introduced himself as Mikha’el Theophylact.

The second to speak, an otherworldly wisp of flame and light arrayed in the form of a noble woman of a scarred visage, her one true eye blazing with void fire. She wore no armor, merely the arraignment of silks and jewelry blazing with the psychic fires of ethereal projection. The wisp bowed her head as she asked simply for forgiveness for her inability to witness her sister in the flesh before introducing herself as Ur’Rial Cayndos.

The third giant wore armor of patterned and polished otherworldly purples, etched with ten thousand symbols of some otherworldly significance, as if a scholar had taken a quill to a stone. Their meanings intrigued Vakosa as she nodded along to his words as she raised a brow at the sight of his wide brimmed silver crowned Jingasa that his his features underneath. Smiling slightly as He inclined his shaven, tattooed head, likewise inked with scripture -- the lettering purple upon the pale skin.

He introduced himself as Borakhutai Shogun, his voice a hymn of power where Mikha’els had been a measured, stately demand and Ur’Rials a whisper underlined by the crackling of void-fire. There was sorrow in his otherwise kind eyes -- a sorrow that mirrored that of the other Demigods arrayed as they looked upon at the dark city, though mitigated somewhat as they peered over the scarred but otherwise healthy countenances of the people.

At last, and only once introductions were concluded, jests thrown and small laughs had did the Golden God smile - a warm thing that forced his assembled children to look toward their primogenitor in near unison. And with their attention did he open his arms wide in welcome to his daughter, and with it did the entire sky erupt in a brilliance not witnessed in living memory.

In honor of the new dawn that the Imperium had brought to Astraeus, the Emperor had orchestrated a fractional alteration in the orbit of Astraeus' moon, freeing the world from its perpetual eclipse. Though the light from Astraeus' dying star remained wan and pale, for many, it would be the last thing they would ever see. Even the Moritan herself was overwhelmed, overcome by uncontrollable tremors and seized by one of her prophetic visions.

She was caught near instantly by her brothers as she shrieked into her hands - a sensation that grated upon their minds like claws upon chalkboard. Even the Witch Born projection of Ur’Rial seemed to falter into embers as worry creeped into her features.

Seeing this, and with an almost infinite tenderness, the Emperor reached out and placed his hands upon his daughter's head, calming the seizure and speaking soothing words:

> "Xann Vakosa, my Noctis born, be at peace, my child. I have arrived, and I intend to take you home."
>
>

But Vakosa, her reply measured and composed as she was helped to her feet, responded with words that reverberated across the galaxy, forever etched in the annals of history:

> "That is not my name, Father. I am the Moritan, your... *your* Angel of Death... and I have beheld the glorious vision of the Kingdom we shall create."
>
>

In reply, the prideful cries of a million Angelus echoed over the Planet. The coronation cries of a new Lord of the Stars.

### The Great Crusade

"*Look unto my father's Empire and its near Divine Might. Do not unroll a parchment map or analyze a hololithic starchart. Merely raise your head to the night sky and open your eyes. Stare into the blackness hidden between worlds – that dark ocean, that silent and creeping sea. Stare into the million eyes of firelight – each an ancient sun to be subjugated into the Emperor's grip. This age... this hated age of the alien, this plagued era of the inhuman, is over. Mankind is in its time of ascendancy, and with ten thousand talons we will lay claim to the stars themselves.*"
— Luminarch Xann Vakosa of the Noctis addressing the IXth Legion during the Great Crusade
The newly renamed Legio Corvorum Mortis newly reunited and now led by their Mother, fought their first campaigns of the Great Crusade alongside the Sons of The Morning. This partnership gave Llucerian ample opportunity to examine his sister's fascinating talents, which it seemed was derived from sources far removed from his own methods of psionic mastery. Better than many, Llucerian knew that the future was not set in stone, and that the visions could as easily be taken as warnings. Yet despite all attempts to use the information gleaned from these prophesies, the fates always seemed to conspire against him. Shorn of context of what they referred to, the jumble of images only seemed to make sense after the event, by which time it was far too late.

Though she had long resisted it, Vakosa had finally agreed to allow her brother access to the memories of her latest vision. Llucerian with the aid of his Librarium was more successful than they could have hoped, reassembling the headlong rush of knowledge into a coherent form. Forewarned, they were able to prevent the ambush and destruction of many of the orbiting Imperial Army vessels, and the planet fell into compliance soon afterwards. In the wake of this victory, the Moritan confessed to her brother the dark truth that had haunted her since he had first met the Emperor on Astraeus; that her prophesy had not, as he had publicly stated, been of the inevitable rise of the Stellar Imperium. Instead it had shown her own execution, and that the deed had been carried out on the orders of their own father. The proof that the visions were not inevitable and could be averted had freed her to at long last confide this knowledge to another. With the burden lifted from her shoulders, she was at last able to accept and welcome these visions, and rapidly became skilled at their interpretation. She was also free to set aside her past and reclaimed the name her father had bestowed upon her – that of Vakosa Noctis.

The Legio Corvorum Mortis’ apprenticeship was finally at an end, and as the Sons of The Morning left, reinforcements arrived in the form of the first Angelus recruited from Astraeus. What should have been a moment of great pride proved to be singularly ill-starred. As Xann Vakosa greeted these new battle-brothers, she was struck by the vision of his legion corrupted from within and populated by criminals, beasts, and moral degenerates – individuals who carried out wanton acts of brutality for no better reason than for the sick thrill of it. And where the Moritan might have resignedly embraced this as the inevitable reason for her execution, Xann Vakosa would not. Instead, he ordered the new Angelus placed under confinement, and returned to his homeworld with all haste.

He had thought Astraeus left in capable hands. Instead, Xann Vakosa found that in his absence the criminals had risen up once more and turned the planet into a cesspool of lawlessness. The Adeptus Arbites and the Administratum had been unable to deal with the situation, so it fell to Vakosa and his Legio Corvorum Mortis to re-impose order through the fear of brutal, inevitable retribution. Within a week, crime had dropped back to nothing, and when the legion eventually returned to the Great Crusade, it was an unbending cadre of Legio Corvorum Mortis who held stewardship of the planet rather than the hopelessly outclassed Adeptus Arbites.

The Legio Corvorum Mortis found themselves changed by the experience of Astraeus, and with the lessons of the campaign weighting heavily upon them, they saw the Imperium with fresh eyes. The Great Crusade had become a victim of its own success. With so many worlds conquered so fast, many took advantage of their distance from the front lines to rise up against the Imperium. Long before the Iron Warriors were persuaded to bleed away their strength in garrison duties to address this, the Legio Corvorum Mortis took it upon themselves to re-impose the rule of Imperial Law on the faltering galaxy.

This was a far more uncompromising, brutal legion than the one which had accompanied the Sons of The Morning. It descended on planets only nominally still part of the Imperium, and enshrouded them in a cloak of fear. Planetary leaders were given the ultimatum to submit wholeheartedly to the Pax Imperialis, and any who resisted became bloody public exhibitions to the folly of resistance. They did this not out of sadistic pleasure, but from the knowledge that humanity needed to be subjected to the fear of certain retribution to keep it from straying into corruption. Just as a plant grows twisted if the cane that supports and guides it is removed too soon, the same applied to the Imperium of Mankind.

The Legio Corvorum Mortis took it upon themselves to do the terrible things required to keep the Imperium from slipping into anarchy and rebellion, and to protect humanity from its own darkest impulses. Vakosa’s prophetic visions were vital in crushing rebellions before they could gain ground, and the belief was encouraged that they could see the evil that lurked in the hearts of men. They did all of this willingly, knowing that the price was to be hated, and obviously feared, by the very people they were protecting.

## Personalty

Within Vakosa's complex persona, three distinct facets coexisted, each with its own defining characteristics. The first was Xann Vakosa of the Noctis, a formidable military strategist known for her ruthlessness and unwavering efficiency. As a devout follower of the Emperor's will, she executed her duties with a righteous fervor, ensuring that justice prevailed and the enemies of the Imperium met their deserved fate.

The second aspect was the Umbral Monarch, an embodiment of regal darkness and a beacon of justice and fairness. In this guise, Vakosa ruled with poise and wisdom, upholding the principles of righteousness and ensuring the welfare of her subjects. Her reign as the Umbral Monarch brought balance and prosperity, a testament to her just and equitable rule.

However, it was the Dormio Moritan who represented the blood-stained vigilante within Vakosa's psyche. This persona reveled in the shedding of guilty blood, deriving power from the fear and dread that consumed her victims. The Dormio Moritan, with a relentless thirst for vengeance, served as a grim reminder of the consequences that awaited those who crossed the line of morality.

Vakosa's extraordinary ability to peer into the future granted her prescient visions, enabling her to foresee the potential outcomes of various events. This gift, while powerful, placed an immense mental strain on the Luminarch's shoulders, burdening her psyche with the weight of such knowledge.

Those who encountered Vakosa often described her as stern and unyielding in her convictions. She displayed a stoic demeanor, driven by her unshakeable loyalty to the Imperium and the Legion she commanded. Although she was not inherently cruel or vindictive like Zemaros Zol'tsh, Vakosa's judgments were often perceived as callous, for they were shaped not by her own design but rather by the will of the Emperor himself. Such perceptions added to her enigmatic and formidable presence, instilling both fear and respect in those who crossed her path.

## Wargear

* **The Reapers Tomb:** A tomb seen with the Luminarch upon her rediscovery.

* **Eternities Rest:** To give it the macabre nickname favored by its wielder, is a massive two-handed battle scythe with a blade span as long as most mortal warriors are tall. This formidable weapon is accounted as one of the most fearsome blades wielded by any Luminarch. Since Vakosas rediscovery by her Brethren during the Great Crusade, there have been shadowed whispers that the blade is of xenos-tainted origin, and some familiar with the legends of the Legio Corvorums Luminarch early life believe it to be a weapon taken as a trophy of a terrible charnel creature that once named itself Vakosas ‘killer’ during her beginning years as the Moritan.

* **Mania:** A drum-barrelled Heavy Volketic Pistol and the preferred sidearm of Vakosa. The maker of the Archeotech weapon was originally the leader of a cult of Void-Worshiping cultists on the Industrialized World of Shalini. The Emperor destroyed the cult in order to ensure the Imperial Compliance of Shalini, and the weapon would later come into the possession of Vakosa.

* **The Nyx Panoplia:** Created as a gift to the newly rediscovered Luminarch, with the oversight of her brother Llucerian, it was designed to perfection for Vakosa, the raiment of war was a customized suit of Artificer Armor, bedecked in Astraen ornamentation, and It would be laced with psycho-reactive crystals, and with the growing psychic talent of Vakosa, she could better channel her indomitable latent ability to strike down any nearby foes.