Anpu Symt Khener

## Asim Dul'mah

**Asim Nau Dul'mah**, renowned by various epithets such as the **"Whisper of the Sands,"** **"Lord Amun,"** **"The Hidden Light,"** the **"Jackal of Anubis,"** and **"The King of Dreams,"** commands the esteemed role of Luminarch within the Xth Legion, distinguished as the Dune Wardens. The presence of this enigmatic Luminarch remains an elusive spectacle, rarely glimpsed even by the Marines of his own Legion. Nevertheless, his dominion over matters was irrefutable. In spite of his discreet mode of leadership, Asim engaged in combat as a consummate predator, displaying unparalleled prowess.

Dubbed *'The King of Darkness,'* Asim was renowned for his formidable and lethal abilities, orchestrating strikes from the obscurity akin to a lethal jackal of the dunes. His adversaries fell victim to his deadly precision, succumbing to his lethal assaults from a distance, devoid of any hesitancy or remorse, only for him to dissolve back into the shadows whence he emerged.

In contrast to the specialized Assassin Clades of the Temple Assassinorum Imperialis, Asim's mastery of combat was honed to a lethal edge - an amalgamation of determination, physiology, and rigorous training - augmented by unparalleled fieldcraft and an arsenal of weaponry. His unparalleled aptitude for infiltrating the ideal vantage point, delivering the decisive, fatal blow from afar during pivotal campaigns, became the stuff of legends. Historical records preserved from the Great Crusade underscore the Tenth Legion's Luminarch's ability to successfully bring numerous worlds into Imperial Compliance. This feat was accomplished with remarkable efficiency, often requiring but a solitary shot or a precisely placed blade, thereby circumventing the expenditure of innumerable rounds and the lives of countless Imperial soldiers.

## History

### The Whisper of the Sands

Diverging from his kin, Asim's gestation capsule, unlike theirs, carried an unexpected cargo across the vast expanse of space with him. Amid the fervor of the Embryonic Luminarchs' ascension, a convergence of cosmic forces swept up various debris, including Asim's capsule, and propelled him to the far reaches of the Eastern Fringes of the galaxy. His celestial journey culminated on the forsaken and scarcely habitable world known simply as Ne'phesa III – a desert realm poised to emerge from its hidden realm.

Once a center of technological marvels and scientific exploration, the Dark Millennia of the Long Dark descended upon Ne'phesa III. Atmospheric pollutants raised global temperatures to scorching heights, transforming much of its surface into desolation. The planet's connection with the broader Human Empire vanished into oblivion as a shroud of isolation enveloped it. Subsequent centuries witnessed relentless territorial strife between clans and factions, a ceaseless conflict that reduced the world to dust. Amidst this tumult, a constant sight remained: the encircling array of space stations and satellites, each fixed on the stars above, clinging to a desperate hope for humanity's return from the boundless azure void.

Against this backdrop, the Luminarch of the Xth Legion was born, his psychic arrival setting ablaze the nocturnal sky. Radios picked up signals from satellites, and eyes turned skyward as tribes neighboring his birthplace bore witness to the descent of an ethereal column of energy, rushing to meet it as it plunged towards the earth.

Yet, the young Luminarch was psychically propelled miles away from his capsule's landing site, destined to become the offspring of a tribeswoman, his presence concealed in the midst of a virgin birth. As clans amassed, their search led only to fragments of debris and the archeotech remnants of his capsule. The aftermath of tribal conflicts for possession of the Luminarch's capsule revealed a trove of advanced technology from the heavens, stoking a hunger for more. Search parties embarked on quests to trace whatever else had accompanied the empty pod, their frequency escalating until the clans' resources were fully devoted to this relentless pursuit.

Born to Mesta Nau, a young Priestess of the Black Jackal, the Luminarch was christened Asim Nau. The Temple's clergy interpreted the child's arrival and the miraculous virgin birth as divine omens, treating the boy accordingly. While the Temple concealed him in secrecy, word of the gathered forces seeking the Luminarch reached even their isolated precincts.

As their numbers swelled, even the Temple's protective shroud could only hold off the inevitable for so long. Raiders, venturing beyond the Temple, sought to capture him, becoming the first humans other than Temple inhabitants to cross paths with the Luminarch. Despite his youth and lack of formal training, Asim, being a Luminarch, effortlessly dispatched his attackers. Thereafter, the young Luminarch adopted a more cautious approach, shunning others, even the temple of his birth. He operated from the shadows, engaging adversaries from a distance when necessary, thus evading the clans' assaults and hunts for over half a year.

However, as fate would have it, the inevitable moment arrived. Skillful in the arts of stealth, Asim himself, was encircled by Ne'phesan warriors during the night. Though he slew nearly a hundred in the ensuing struggle, he was ultimately captured, bound in chains, and transported as a captive to Gesypet, the stronghold of the Dul'mah Clan. There, within the city's walls, the captured colossus endured months of agonizing experimentation. His superhuman constitution regenerated after every dissection, his bones healed following each marrow extraction. Over time, the outdated and malfunctioning medical equipment of the Ne'phesan scientists began to unveil the mysteries of the Luminarch's advanced biology. The experiments took a progressively brutal turn, resulting in the removal of non-vital organs and rudimentary brain scans in a quest to replicate an approximation of the Inheritance-Helix compound.

Amidst the haze of tranquilizers that he was subjected to, Asim's mind persevered, concocting a plan. Seizing an opportunity during a relatively simple medical procedure, the Luminarch exerted such force against his restraints that his hand shattered and was mangled. With a bloody, limp limb, he savagely dispatched nearby scientists, liberating himself and staggering away from the chamber of his captivity. Those who dared confront Asim's wrath met swift and brutal ends. In the span of an hour, the inhabitants of Gesypet yielded to the Luminarch's awe-inspiring and terrifying dominion. His ascent to power was swift and ruthless. The surviving scientists labored to mend Asim's shattered hand with bionic components and synthetic skin, replacing what he had lost during his escape. Following this, they, along with the city's existing ruling body, faced execution, leaving no opposition to Asim's ascendancy. Within a mere week since his escape, he wielded absolute authority within the city.

Over the ensuing twelve years, Asim orchestrated an unyielding campaign of conquest over the planet. Gradually, the Ne'phesan clans fell beneath the rule of Asim Nau of Dul'mah, a figure simultaneously revered and dreaded for his martial prowess and fearsome aura. To most Ne'phesans, he remained an elusive specter, a hidden tyrant reigning with an iron grip. This enigmatic persona earned him the moniker of the *'Whisper of the Sands,'* a title he reluctantly embraced. Eventually, the entirety of Ne'phesa III succumbed to Asim's dominion, and his ambitions turned towards the heavens.

At this juncture, the approach of an imposing iron fleet to Ne'phesa III came into view, heralding a pivotal moment in his rule.

### The Scouring of Ne'phesa

The anticipation hung heavy in the atmosphere as satellites transmitted unprecedented warnings, signaling the approach of foreign entities to the system of Ne'phesa III for the first time since Asim Dul'mah's arrival. These signals bore weight, evoking a range of emotions among the planet's inhabitants. Some succumbed to trepidation, envisioning impending invasion and conflict, while others clung to hopeful fantasies of a joyful reunion with the rest of mankind. Alas, for those who harbored optimistic dreams, their aspirations were destined to be dashed. As the fleet drew near, it unveiled its xenos origins, hurtling towards the planet's vicinity at a brisk pace. Deep within the chambers of his lair nestled within Gesypet's palatial expanse, Asim's mind churned with calculated contemplation. The scant operative factories dotting Ne'phesa III's parched landscape were set into motion, churning out copious armaments to fortify the planet's defenses. Outriders embarked on missions to inspect the time-worn orbital defense platforms, meticulously preparing them for the impending clash. Swiftly, in a matter of mere weeks, Asim orchestrated the planet's readiness for the imminent encroachment. Anticipated landing zones were enveloped by troops poised for defense, intricate traps adorned vital settlements, and the populace underwent basic combat training while being armed in readiness. And so, the fateful day arrived when the fleet loomed overhead.

However, reality proved starkly different from Asim's projections. The alien vessels careened toward Ne'phesa III's surface, displaying scant regard for their own safety. Descending with unparalleled velocity, they evaded the orbital defense batteries' attempts to lock onto them. Their crash landings, marked by billowing smoke and fierce flames, defied prediction and order, resembling a haphazard arrangement. Evidently, this was no invasion, but rather an exodus.

With a measured resolve, Asim dispatched a delegation to greet the initial landing vessel, shadowing the proceedings in secret. While the Ne'phesans stood ready to engage in diplomatic discourse with the refugee xenos, the aliens unceremoniously unleashed a barrage of lethal fire upon laying eyes on the envoy, leaving none alive. From the concealment of shadows, Asim bore witness to the massacre and retreated to Gesypet's depths. It became abundantly clear that conflict was now inevitable.

The clans were promptly informed, and preparations for the ensuing war commenced. Warbands mounted on antiquated, barely-functional jetbikes were dispatched to harass the xenos as they disembarked from their vessels. The Ne'phesan warriors executed lightning-quick assaults, affording the invaders scant time to react before withdrawing. Struggling to navigate the planet's unforgiving and relentless terrain, the refugees' initial attempts at territorial advancement were promptly repelled. Nonetheless, the xenos managed to breach the initial defensive lines established by Asim, making strategic forays toward nearby oil refineries. The invaders' intentions were evident: to refuel their ships and hastily depart, rather than lay claim to the planet. While it might have been easier to stand aside and grant the xenos the resources they sought, Asim's ascent to power had been rooted in unwavering strength and implacable justice. Their invasion of Ne'phesa III had personally affronted him, and this was a slight they would rue.

Employing hit-and-run strategies, Asim's forces lured the xenos into concentrated masses before unleashing chemical assaults that devastated the invaders and eroded their morale. The reprisal, however, bore a savage intensity. Diversions were orchestrated by the xenos, with attacks launched against nearby settlements. Meanwhile, other xenos units desperately surged towards the refineries. Ne'phesan soldiers rallied to protect the oil refineries while incendiary bombing campaigns engulfed settlements where xenos forces congregated, with little regard for the hapless human lives caught in the crossfire. The clashes escalated to such a point that the arrival of a second fleet within the system went unnoticed by the Ne'phesans.

Desperation gripping their ranks, the xenos launched a final, desperate offensive to break free of the Ne'phesan encirclement and escape. The clans rallied to counter this thrust with unwavering determination. Asim himself emerged onto the battlefield, sensing the need to uplift his warriors' spirits. Seeing an opportunity to vanquish the alien threat once and for all, the Ne'phesans fought with unparalleled ferocity, employing every weapon in their arsenal, regardless of its grim nature. Thousands of xenos fell beneath their relentless assault, though the invaders put up a valiant fight. Ultimately, however, they were defeated in the fierce pitched battle that ensued. A palpable sense of liberation washed over Ne'phesa III. Yet, as the dust began to settle upon the sea of xenos corpses, a colossal fleet of Imperial vessels descending through the planet's atmosphere came as a startling revelation.

In the ensuing encounter, Asim was introduced to the leader of the pursuing xenos, a human commander affiliated with the Imperial Army. The figure bore the name Aletien Hersant, an aged and battle-hardened Terran who had relentlessly pursued the xenos fleet following a devastating ambush in deep space. Their vessels grievously damaged in a void engagement, the xenos were finally compelled to make a desperate landing on Ne'phesa III. Swiftly recognizing the visionary ruler of Ne'phesa III as a storied Luminarch, Hersant extended an invitation to Asim, proposing his integration into the ranks of the Imperial Great Crusade. Although initially resistant to acquiescing to a mere human, Asim's skepticism was abated when the Emperor Himself clandestinely appeared, gauging his newfound progeny. Upon the revelation of the Emperor's true identity, Asim promptly accepted the invitation to join the Crusade. Viewing it as an avenue to elevate Ne'phesa III's populace to the stars once more and harboring a well-founded apprehension of the Stellar Imperium's potential retribution, Asim's course was set. He would stand with the Imperial forces and embark on an unprecedented chapter in his extraordinary journey.

### A Troublesome Unity

In the wake of Asim's emergence, a swift transition commenced. Accompanied by his select inner circle, he was transported to the nearby world of Sepsepis, where a vast constellation of stations and docks encircled the planet, serving as the domain of the combined might of the 1087th, 1142nd, and 1687th Expeditionary Fleets, all components of the enigmatic 'Blind Tenth.' Recent arrivals to refuel and rearm, these fleets were now the realm over which Asim would cast his influence. As the news of an impending Luminarch's arrival resonated through the network, a flurry of preparations ensued among the stations' inhabitants and workers, culminating in a momentous reunion between Asim and the leader of the Tenth's fleet, Haderav Mabim – the incumbent Legion Master.

The initial encounter proved to be less than harmonious, marked by Mabim's disorientation in the face of Asim's enigmatic and relentless persona. For his part, Asim was resolute in molding this new legion into his own image, paying little heed to Mabim. The lingering suspicion of Mabim's potential to hinder Asim's ultimate authority persisted, an echo of challenges faced during his reign on Ne'phesa III.

However, the passage of time granted a shift in the dynamics between the two men. A common thread of understanding began to weave itself between Asim and the shrewd, slightly morally ambiguous Terran veteran that was Mabim. A degree of rapport emerged, particularly concerning the division of the legion's structure. Mabim's strategy of permitting the Tenth to retain their tribal divisions and distributing the legion across multiple near-autonomous fleets resonated with Asim's inclinations. In the realm of Ne'phesa III, Asim had orchestrated pivotal actions and reforms, governing from the shadows with trusted lieutenants assuming crucial roles, their authority subservient to Asim's overarching command. Thus, a novel paradigm took root within the Dune Wardens' framework, enabling the legion to operate through several semi-independent fleets under Asim's umbrella of control.

Gradually, the Terran Blind Tenth underwent a transformation, embracing the mantle of the *'Dune Wardens'* or Alrrabeshr, a nomenclature personally chosen by Asim as an homage to the legendary Ne'phesan God of Jackals indigenous to Ne'phesa III's desert landscape. These Jackals played an integral role in Ne'phesan culture and warfare. The legion's visual identity also evolved, shifting from a pristine white to a weathered palette of dull yellow and red, hues that resonated within Ne'phesa III's traditions, worn to signify a Badisin, or tribal chieftain. These alterations, despite the eventual harmonious rapport between Asim and Mabim, merely foreshadowed the forthcoming metamorphoses within the Wardens, intended to secure Asim's dominion.

Substantive shifts in the legion's approach to warfare were introduced in the wake of Asim's ascent. A renewed emphasis on stealth and infiltration emerged, departing from the exclusive reliance on speed that had hitherto characterized the early campaigns of the Blind Tenth. However, the Tenth's legacy of mobility remained intact within Asim's designs, its ethos intertwined into the heart of the Dune Wardens' strategies, especially given the Terran legionnaires' adeptness in executing hit-and-run engagements. The diverse composition of semi-independent Dune Wardens fleets – often predominantly comprised of either Terran or Ne'phesan warriors – engendered an array of tactical variations. Consequently, apart from moments when the legion functioned as a cohesive whole or as part of a Hashd, the early Dune Wardens frequently executed operations under slightly divergent tactical paradigms.

This structure of Legion division into various Hashd engendered a process in which each Hashd carved its own unique cultural identity as the Great Crusade progressed. The emphasis on independence was so deeply ingrained that the Legion functionally operated as autonomous groups nested within autonomous groups, a trend that echoed from the scale of the Hashd down to individual battle companies. This disposition toward autonomy allowed the Dune Wardens to deploy their resources across multiple warzones concurrently, granting them a presence unparalleled among Legions.

## Personality

Asim Nau Dul'mah stands as a figure enshrouded in the shadows of complexity, his psyche a tapestry woven from strands of both darkness and cunning brilliance. Possessing an air of inscrutability, he exudes an aura of reserved intensity that belies the depths of his thoughts. A master of calculated manipulation, Asim's mind operates like a finely tuned instrument, orchestrating intricate schemes and strategies that often unfold behind veils of secrecy. His intellect is a wellspring of foresight, enabling him to anticipate moves on the grandest of stages, a trait that fueled his rise to prominence.

Yet, beneath his calculating exterior resides a tempest of emotions that hint at a soul both tormented and resolute. Fueled by a consuming drive, Asim harbors an unyielding determination to impose his vision upon the world. His path is marked by an unwavering pursuit of control and dominion, a legacy rooted in the harsh crucible of Ne'phesa III's trials. This indomitable spirit, however, is tinged with an almost predatory cunning, as he navigates the intricate webs of power with an expert's finesse. His loyalty to his vision is unwavering, but the price of his ambition often manifests as a willingness to traverse the ethically ambiguous and morally complex.

Beneath the layers of calculated manipulation and iron resolve, glimpses of a brooding introspection emerge. Asim's interactions reveal a contemplative side, a deep-seated introspection that ponders the delicate balance between wielding power and the weight of responsibility. While he casts a chilling presence, those who venture close enough might discern glimmers of empathy, suggesting a multifaceted individual shaped by the harsh realities of his tumultuous journey. Asim Nau Dul'mah remains an enigmatic and captivating force, an intricate mosaic of conflicting attributes that together form a remarkable leader with boundless depths to explore.

## Wargear

* **Dune-Wraith:** It is unknown how or why Asim came to favor this style of weapon, but it was made to his specifications. Shaped like a traditional scimitar, but rather than a gentle, inwardly curving blade, the massive Shotel curves outward, with the cutting edge on the inside of the blade. Asim came to wield it with a speed that belied its size, and could easily bring down the guard of a shielded foe, each strike releasing a blast of radiant void light.

* **Jackal's Maw** - The *Jackal's Maw* is a large, customized master-craft rifle, made to Asim's specifications by the Technoclasts of the Dune Wardens, and named after a trickster legend of his homeworld. The rifle fires four types of unique ammunition, the most infamous being the Separator Round, named for both the smoke canister that detaches itself as the projectile flies through the air, and the bullet's uncanny ability to separate head from body.
	+ **Fleshburner Rounds**
	+ **Electroscrambler Rounds**
	+ **Nervebane Canisters**
	+ **Separator Bolt-Rounds**

* **The Ebony Cuirass:** Asim's raiment of war is a customized suit of light-weight Artificer Armor, bedecked in Ne'phesan sigils of judgment and jewels. During the early years of the Great Crusade, Asim clashed with Venyarii cult-bands. He took note of the Grav-Plates with which the xenos transports were fitted, and charged his allies within The Jovian Mechanicum with reproducing this technology and incorporating it into his artificer-wrought armor.

* **Frag, Defensive & Smoke Grenades**

* **Psi-Daggers**