Setanta Cu Dubh

> "*Sing, singer, of Cu's ruinous anger*
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> Which brought ten thousand pains to the alien,
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> And cast the souls of many stalwart heroes
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> To Hades, and their bodies to the dogs
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> And birds of prey*"*
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> ― Traditional Tuathan toast
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Example

**Sentanta Cu Dubh,** frequently referred to as '**The Cu**', was the primarch of the V Legion of Space Marines, the Black Dogs.

Found upon the death world of Tuatha, the Cu stands out uniquely amongst his siblings as never officially conquering his homeworld, instead he defended a singular city in wait of his ultimate foe, the Arachan. When discovered by the Emperor of Mankind, he resorted to his previous role, seeing his existence as defending the Emperor from threats and destroying those that He deemed be destroyed.

He led the Black Dogs to many of the harshest theatres in pursuit of this goal, fighting in all three wars tha made up the Rangdan Xenocides, battling side by side with the Emperor in the brutal campaigns. Even faced with the destructive capabilities of the Rangdan, he did not baulk or complain with the duties he was given, however the mauling his legion undertook meant that he would never experience the limelight of the Great Crusade.

His hatred of psykers and physical confrontation with Ravadiana directly led to the Council of Nikaea and its subsequent consequences. Most notably of which was the Atlas Apostasy, in which he was slain during the Chondax Calamity by his brother Atlas. His poor relations with many siblings meant he was not wildly mourned, however his sons displayed incredible ferocity that was remarked upon by his siblings in revenge for his death. Throughout the war, rumours persisted of his survival from both his sons, allies, and enemies, with both spectral manifestations being reported or the presence of a ghostly black hound warning allies of impending attacks or haunting the dreams of traitor primarchs and marines.

## History

> "*The truth of the Cu is the truth of Tuatha. Dark, untrusting, and dangerous, yet respect lies for those that earn it.*"
> ― Remembrances of Primarch[[ |[source]]]
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### Early Life

When the nascent Primarchs were cast from the gene-forges beneath the Imperial Palace, the Cu was deposited on the world of Tuatha, a world of thick forests and dark skies, where every shadow hid a beast more than willing to end the life of anyone unfortunate enough to encounter it.

The beginning of the Cu's life after his arrival on Tuatha is a mystery, as the Cu left no record of his activities prior to his discovery. The length of time he spent unaccounted for is unknowable, entering records when he was discovered by a ranging party from the town of Dubh. The group had heard rumours of a beast and sought to exterminate it before it exterminated them, instead they found a giant of a man standing over the corpse of the beast, with a hound almost as large as the man by his side. Initially terrified of the giant before them, it was established that he was not out for their blood and was quickly taken back to the rangers town, named Dubh. The Chief of the town immediately recognised the uniqueness of the man and inquired as to how he came to live in the woods.

Cu withheld from telling them his youth, however sources debate whether he had spent it in the company of other humans as records of other Primarchs show growth did not begin until one was in the company of man. Cu did, however, display a marked hatred for the beasts that roamed the woods and agreed to defend Dubhfrom them. He became known by the residents of the hamlet as Cu Dubh, the hound of Dubh.

He became renowned for seeing off rival settlement raids and slaying a number of beasts that strayed too close to the hamlet, however the scent of a much larger beast raised Cu’s interest. Sensing the threat it posed to the hamlet, he departed in pursuit of it.

He spent many days and nights tracking the beast, however no matter how close he got he was unable to catch it. He returned to Dubh slightly dejected, but confident he had driven it from his home, only to find that the hamlet had been ravaged  in his absence by the very beast he’d sworn to kill. He’d then retreated into the trees in pursuit of the beast, slaying multiple beasts in his hunt.

His pursuit was again interrupted by the arrival of a second party that was sent to investigate why so many corpses of beasts were appearing. The Cu travelled with them back their their city, where their chief was amazed at his resilience and capability in slaying the beasts, asking him to remain in the city to help. Cu declined, however he did agree to remain in the area, only if in hope that the beast would be drawn to the large populace. A quiter voice asked where Cu had gained his own beast, to which Cu remained unsure, saying that it had been by his side since as early as he could remember.

Many years passed as Cu waited patiently for the beast to arrive, drawn by the irresitably smell of civilisation and prey. During that time, Cu attracted a sizeable band of followers who wished to slay beasts with him, some having lost people to their claws whilst others simply wished for the dangerous adventure. He accepted them but remained distant, ensuring that he did not develop strong attachments that might prevent him from slaying the beast when it arrived.

Sure enough, the beast could not stay away for long. However, it attacked the camp of his followers first in an attempt to wipe out the largest threat to it. Cu and the beast battled for many hours, his followers falling in considerable numbers, however it was not in vain. The beast was exhausted and, with a fury unmatched, Cu ripped the beast’s head from its body, his vengeance finally achieved.

He returned to Ogma victorious, his followers in tow telling of his strength and glory, but Cu did not engage in it, letting the beast’s head tell his story for him. His story began to spread amongst the few trade routes that existed on the world and the extermination of the beasts began to be planned, however before any plan for be devised, the Emperor arrived and with it, the Imperium.