Augustus Gate

**This article, Augustus Gate, was written by Phoenix Arcanum. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Character

### **Language(s)**

High/Low Gothic
Xyonic Lexicon

### **Role(s)**

Astra Militarum Psyker (formerly)
Inquisitor (formerly)
Rogue Trader

### **Affiliation**

House Thelixar (Nominally)
Adeptus Astra Telepathica
Astra Militarum
Imperial Inquisition
Gate Dynasty

### **Regiment**

1307th Konigrad Siege Regiment
2nd Victoran Legionary Regiment

### **Order**

Ordo Hereticus (formerly)
Ordo Malleus (formerly)

## Physical Description

### **Weight**

~85 kg

**Augustus Gate** is a Xyonite (Abhuman) that serves the Imperium of Man as a Rogue Trader. Augustus began his career as a Primaris Psyker with the designation of *Aries-Delta.* At various points in his life he served in three different Regiments of the Astra Militarum before being "requisitioned" by Inquisitor Lady Athena Gate. It was Athena who gave him the name *Augustus Gate*, a name he would carry for the rest of his life.

By 962.M41, Augustus was an independent Inquisitor under the patronage of Athena Gate.

After Athena's passing, Augustus, no longer under the protection of his mentor, was made to appear before an Inquisitorial Conclave for an "existence evaluation". Although he was of *Sanctioned* status and was an individual of notable repute, he was still an Abhuman and a Psyker. Some wished to see Augustus executed, believing he had outlived his usefulness. Others believed that Augustus' fervent devotion to the Emperor of Mankind was evidence that he could still serve in some capacity.

By the end of the evaluation, the Conclave was able to reach a compromise. It was decided that Augustus would be allowed to live and continue his service to the Imperium under two conditions. The first was that he would accept a Warrant of Trade under pain of death. The second was that he would and cease official Inquisitorial duties, failure to comply would result in summary execution.

After being shipped to Terra to receive his official warrant from the Senatorum Imperialis, Augustus was given ownership of the *Aurora Aurelia* (a heavily modified Mars-class Battlecruiser inherited Athena) and effectively herded into the Cernunnos Expanse

By the 42nd Millennium, Augustus has assembled a sizable Rogue Trader Dynasty, replete with a private fleet and army. He continues to operate within the Cernunnos Expanse, assisting the Imperium in its expansion into this vast wilderness of space.

## History

### Childhood

Augustus Gate was born in the year 799.M41 on the planet Xyon into the aristocratic House Thelixar. His birth name is unknown as it was never recorded outside of the Xyonic Lexicon, whose written language could not be translated into High or Low Gothic. In the Xyonic Lexicon, his was name was written as "α:Δ²x".

Like all Xyonite youths at the age of eight, Augustus was rigorously screened for psychic potential. Xyonite's identified as having conscious and/or moderate levels of psychic talent are surrendered to the Black Ships of the Inquisition as part of Xyon's planetary tithes.

Augustus and his closest friend Serana were among those given over to the Black Ships bound for Holy Terra. Upon arriving at the birthplace of humanity, two possible fates awaited the mass of Psykers held in a Black Ship's hold. The luckiest among them are sent to the Scholastica Psykana for training. The rest will be sent to the Imperial Palace as sacrifices to fuel the Holy Astronomicon.

Augustus was one of the lucky few selected to be trained by the Scholastica Psykana. Serana on the otherhand was judged to be " to dangerous to train" and was set to be sacrificed to the Golden Throne. However, the Black Ship carrying Serana to Terra would never reach its final destination.

Augustus began his training in 807.M41. While at the Scholastica Psykana, he was judged to possess Delta-level psychic talents and given the designation *Aries-Delta.* While Augustus, like most Xyonites, had talents for both Divination and Telepathy, he also possessed a greater destructive potential than most of his kin.

In 812.M41, Augustus was marked out for specialized training as a Battle-Psyker.

Once his training with the Scholatica Psykana was complete, Augustus was conscripted into a Wyrdvane Psyker Squad of the Astra Militarum led by Ragnar Helsen. Augustus' "squadmates" included Aya Korono and Cyrus Caradan.

Aya Korono was a native of the distant planet Mundus Kobi. She was around Augustus' age and the two trained together at the Scholatica Psykana on Terra. Augustus would form a close relationship with Korono and the two had a nigh-unbreakable bond.

Cyrus Caradan was once a nobleman of the planet Orastora. Born in 717.M41, Caradan kept his psychic powers hidden for decades and attributed his youthful appearance to numerous rejuvenat treatments. Eventually, Caradan's powers where discovered and was sent to Terra for processing.

Ragnar Helsen was a senior Primaris Psyker tasked with mentoring "Helsen Squad" and ensuring their powers did not grow out of control.

### Service to the Astra Militarum

In 822.M41, "Helsen Squad" was assigned to the Konigrad Warhost and attached to the 1307th Siege Regiment under the command of Colonel Katarina Wolffe. Within the Regiment, Helsen Squad was shuffled into an Auxiliary Force of the 23rd Company.

The Auxiliary Force was led by Commissar Xerxes Nicodemus and aside from a Wyrdvane Psyker Squad also included a small squad of three Ogryns. When deployed as an Armoured Fist, the Psykers and Ogryns were crammed into a single Chimera while Commissar Nicodemus rode in a Command Chimera.

In 815.M41, Regiments of the Konigrad Warhost were among several Imperial forces dispatched to fight the gene-enhanced soldiers of the Aetiras Majoris, a planet that broke away from the Imperium in an attempt to create their own interstellar empire.

Imperial Forces under the command of General Leopold Jagris (a native of Aetiras Majoris whose family remained loyal to the Emperor) had long been engaged in an assault against the forces of the "Aetiran Sovereignty" that had occupied the bleak, muddy, war-scarred world of Aria IV. During the Siege of Aria IV, Imperial Loyalist Forces operated out of a base on Aria IV's Armoury Moon of Anya's Tear.

The Siege of Aria IV lasted twelve years total, from 815.M41 until 827.M41 and resulted in an Imperial victory. As the Aetiran Sovereignty abandoned their holdings on Aria IV, Helsen Squad was transferred out of the Konigrad 1307th.

In late 827.M41, Helsen Squad and Commissar Xerxes were transferred to the 2nd Victoran Legionary Regiment under of General Tarquinius. Like the Konigrad Warhost, the Victoran Legionaries hailed from the Arcana Sector. Shortly after being transferred, the Victoran 2nd was called to serve in the (First) Cernunnos Crusade alongside Imperial forces of the Arcana, Kastorius, and Charlemagne Sector. The first planet claimed by the First Cernunnos Crusade was the War World of Venator IX which became the Imperium's bulwark against the horrors of the Cernunnos Expanse.

During the Crusade, Augustus was able to witness the mythical Angels of Death, Space Marines of the Iron Spears Chapter. He also saw the holy warriors of the Adepta Sororitas Order of the GIlded Rose and the venerable God-Machines of the Legio Ferox.

In 830.M41 a large Chaos uprising occured on the planet Ixon and the forces of the Cernunnos Crusade were sent to quell it. During the Battle of Ixon, Korono became possessed by a Daemon and Augustus was forced to end her life.

It was during the Battle of Ixon that Augustus first met Almar Gram, a Guardsman of the Norden Huscarls. During the battle Gram was grievously wounded but later repaired with extensive cybernetics which greatly extended his lifespan.

The First Cernunnos Crusade came to a close in 842.M41 and Helsen Squad was disbanded shortly thereafter with the remaining members sent to different Regiments. Xerxes Nicodemus would go on to lead a life of fame as a decorated Lord Commissar.

Augustus remained with the Victoran 2nd for many long decades after the end of the First Cernunnos Crusade and by 848.M41 he had attained the rank of Primaris Psyker and held a place in the Victoran 2nd's Regimental Command Squad.

Augustus would continue to serve in the Victoran 2nd for many long decades before encountering Inquisitor Lady Athena Arcanum in 939.M41. Athena took a liking to Augustus and "requisitioned" him as part of her retinue.

### Inquisitorial Service

While serving under Inquisitor Lady Athena Gate, *Aries-Delta* was given the new name of *Augustus Gate*, a name he would carry with him for the rest of his life. As an Inquisitorial Acolyte, Augustus would serve as Athena's right-hand. Athena would work to shape Augustus' natural-born hatred for all things Chaos into an adamantium bulwark and weapon against the Ruinous powers.

For his first assignment, Augustus was dispatched to recover the *Forfex Urizen*, an ancient relic power sword. Alityra, an Eldar of Craftworld Feinnwe, was also sent to recover the artifact blade. While Augustus succeeded in recovering the blade, his force staff was broken, with the *Forfex Urizen* becoming his new weapon of choice. Augustus and Alityra have since formed a rivalry that is still alive and well in the 42nd Millennium.

Eventually in 962.M41, Augustus would become an independent Inquisitor under the patronage of Athena. As an Inquisitor, Augustus reconnected with Almar Gram who joined his retinue as a "second-in-command"

After Athena's passing in 978.M41, Augustus, no longer under the protection of his mentor, was made to appear before an Inquisitorial Conclave for an "existence evaluation". Although he was of *Sanctioned* status and was an individual of notable repute, he was still an Abhuman and a Psyker. Some wished to see Augustus executed, believing he had outlived his usefulness. Others believed that Augustus' fervent devotion to the Emperor of Mankind was evidence that he could still serve in some capacity.

### Becoming a Rogue Trader

By the end of the evaluation, the Conclave was able to reach a compromise. It was decided that Augustus would be allowed to live and continue his service to the Imperium under two conditions. The first was that he would accept a 'Warrant of Trade' under pain of death. The second was that he would and cease official Inquisitorial duties, failure to comply would result in summary execution.

After being shipped to Terra to receive his official warrant from the Senatorum Imperialis, Augustus was given ownership of the *Aurora Aurelia,* a heavily modified Mars-class Battlecruiser inherited from Athena

Despite the outcome of the trial, there were many within the Ordo Hereticus that were wary of Augustus and did not trust him on his own. To this end, they partnered him with fellow Inquisitor Hana Belrose. It was believed that Hana would keep Augustus "in line" and ensure his loyalty just as Athena had.

By the 42nd Millennium, Augustus had assembled a sizable Rogue Trader Dynasty, replete with a private fleet and army. He often chooses to operate within the Cernunnos Expanse, assisting the Imperium by pushing the frontier and exploring of the vast interstellar wilderness.

During the Age of the Dark Imperium, the threats to the Emperor's domain have increased exponentially, especially in the half of the galaxy designated *Imperium Nihilus*. In M42, the Imperium has drawn up tentative plans to launch a Second Cernunnos Crusade now that the Expanse has grown more danherous than ever. Augustus Gate, a veteran of the First Crusade, is actively working with Imperial authorities from the Arcana, Kastorius, and Charlemagne Sectors to help plan this new, daunting military campaign.

## Personality

Augustus seems to harbor a sense of genuine compassion (at least by the standards of the 41st Millennium) and cares deeply for the members of his retinue, placing their safety and well-being above his own. Augustus as an individual is equally sanguine (charismatic, and enthusiastic) and choleric (impulsive and ambitious).

Augustus very much fits the Rogue Trader trope of the 'Explorer'. Augustus is often exhilarated by the dangerous situations he finds himself in and believes there is nothing better than "living life on the edge". He hardly complained when the Senatorum Imperialis essentially stripped him of his position as Inquisitor and instead forced him to become a Rogue Trader.

## Appearance

Augustus Gate is a man with a very young and youthful appearance (despite being over three centuries old as of 100.M42), stands at 188 cm tall, and has a light Caucasian skin tone. He has medium-length dark brown hair. His eyes are dark crimson in color and seemingly capable of shifting in hue. His face is often clean-shaven. Despite his great regenerative attributes his body is covered in numerous scars, many of which were acquired during his service in the Astra Militarum. Only a small scar on his right cheek is present on his face.

Upon graduation from the Scholastica Psykana, an icon was branded on Augustus' back-left shoulder to mark his status as a Sanctioned Psyker.

## Equipment

Since his time as an Inquisitor, Augustus maintained a vast armoury of weapons and equipment of all kinds. As a Rogue Trader, Augustus continues his habit of utilizing a large and diverse arsenal.

While he has many weapons at his disposal, Augustus does have his favorites. Chief among these is *the Forfex Urizen,* an ancient relic power sword Augustus recovered during his early days as an Inquisitorial Acolyte. Augustus also appears to have a special attachment to two master-crafted and heavily-modified Stubpistols.

## Abilities

**Psychic Powers:** Augustus Gate is classified as a Santioned Primaris Psyker and was trained by the Scholatica Psykana on Terra. Augustus possesses talents for Divination, Telepathy, and "general destruction." The Scholastica Psykana believed Augustus to possess Delta-level psychic power. In regards to his Divination abilities, Augustus has a high level of "temporal awareness" and is able to perceive glimpses of future events before they happen. Uniquely however, Augustus himself claims to be haunted by visions of "other realities, parallel timelines, and past and future incarnations. Whether this is a genuine claim or some kind of jest is uncertain.

**Enhanced Physiology:** As a Xyonite-strain Abhuman, Augustus possesses a number of extra internal organs that grant him a greater physiolog than unaugmented, baseline Humans. When his natural abilities are combined with rigorous training and psychic might, his is far stronger and much faster than any ordinary Human while being able to recover from normally crippling injuries. While Augustus once claimed to go "toe-to-toe" with a Chaos Space Marine and emerge victorious, this statement is often ignored as an instance of exageration and aggrandisement.

## Entourage

* **Almar Gram:** Gram is a native of the frozen world of New Nordholm and a veteran of the Cernunnos Crusade as a member of the Norden Huscarls. Served with Augustus during the Battle of Ixon where he was grievously wounded. Gram was repaired with extensive cybernetics reconstruction which significantly extended his life. Gram has served as Augustus' "right hand" since the latter's time as an Inquisitor and currently acts as the first mate of the *Aurora Aurelia*.
* **Inquisitor Hana Belrose:** Hana Belrose is an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus assigned to be Augustus' "partner". Despite his apparent usefulness to the Imperium, there were many within the Ordo Hereticus that were wary Augustus' status as a both an Abhuman and a Psyker. Their solution to their dilemna was Hana. Hana's "mission" as it were is to keep Augustus "in line" and continue to ensure his loyalty to the Imperium.
* **Xero Stalgrim:** An ancient Tech-Priest who served as the Chief Engineer aboard the *Aurora Aurelia* since it was in the possession of Athena Gate.
* **Erika Jagris:** Erika Jager was descended from a long-line of military commanders hailing from Aetiras Majoris. When the Aetiran Sovereignty declared independence from the Imperium, the Jagris Family remained loyal to the Emperor. Following the death of her parents, Erika was sent to the Schola Progenium where she was later recruited into the Adepta Sororitas Order of the Gilded Rose. As a Sister of Battle, Erika Jagris would eventually become a member of Augustus' Rogue Trader retinue.
* **Dulacain:** Dulacain was once a Battle-Brother of the Iron Spears 4th Company before facing dishonor in battle. To attone for his sin Dulacain chose the path of the *Fenian* and began operating as a hunter-warrior independent from the rest of his Chapter. While acting as a Fenian, Dulacain became part of Augustus's Rogue Trader retinue.
* **Arsain Lopán XXIII:** Lopán is an infamous master criminal whose family has been the bane of the Adeptus Arbites for six centuries. Augustus rescued Lopán from execution, following which the gentleman thief joined the Rogue Trader's retinue.
* **Jirgen Jericho:** Jericho is a renown sharpshooter and Imperial Guard Veteran who had previously known Augustus during the latter's later years as an Inquisitor. Later joined Augustus' Rogue Trader retinue after completing his tour of duty and retiring from the Guard. Spent his retirement funds on a rejuvenat treatment
* **Gonon Korono XXXIII:** Gonon is a renown sword-master from the distan planet Mundus Kobi. The power sword in Gonon's possession has been a family heirloom for nearly 1,000 years. Gonon is a distant blood-relative of the late Aya Korono, one of Augustus' earliest friends and compatriots.

## Gallery

Icon typically affiliated with Gate DynastyAurora Aurelia, personal flagship of Augustus Gate