Naevius Ephrehn

Official Pict of Watch-Brother Naevius Ephrehn of the Deathwatch. Hailing from the Blood Drinkers Chapter, Adeptus Astartes.

## Character

### **Title(s)**

Brother-Sergeant (Formerly); Watch-Brother (Currently)

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man; Adeptus Astartes; Angelic Host; Blood Drinkers; Deathwatch

### **Chapter**

Blood Drinkers (Seconded to the Deathwatch)

## Physical Description

### **Height**

7'6 ft Unarmored; 8'2 ft Armored

**Naevius Ephrehn** is a Firstborn Astartes of the Blood Drinkers Chapter, having served as a Sergeant of a Squad of Tactical Marines before his Secondment to the Deathwatch. Naevius is a standardly built Astartes, specializing in the use of a mix of Tactical Marine tactics and the devastating Assault tactics of the Assault Marines.

## History

### Chapter Service

Naevius was born nearly a Century before the events of the Devastation of Baal. Naevius was born and grew up, in his early years, on the planet of San Guisaga, the Chapter Homeworld of the Blood Drinkers Chapter. Early in his Childhood and adolescence he excelled in all mental and physical tasks that were given to him. One day while Naevius was doing his daily duties, he encountered on of the local fauna, an astorgai. A fearsome beast that is feared by all but the Angels of Death. Naevius though, was no normal boy. He fought this creature with tooth and nail, eventually slaying it and gaining the every-watchful eye of the Blood Drinkers' Reclusiam. Once Naevius had proven himself enough, through surviving the torturous poison of the astorgai, the Chaplaincy took him from his home for the purpose of becoming an Astartes of the Blood Drinkers, an Angel of the Emperor. Once he was taken he began the grueling trials. He fought with the other boys from his village, and many others he did not know, he fought and bested all those who stood against him. Eventually he succeeded in his trials and gained the honor of becoming a Neophyte of the Chapter. After beginning the process of implantation of the Gene-Seed, Naevius kept up his physical prowess whilst studying the history of the Chapter and the Greater Imperium. He eventually came to the end of the implantation and gained the final organs of the Astartean Biology. With the end of his time as a Neophyte, came his first, and not last, Rite of Holos. Naevius drank in the blood of the felled hero of the Chapter that they all sacrificed to sate the Red Thirst, and he felt glad.

Naevius then spent the next half-century as a Scout Marine within the 10th Company, further proving himself to the Chapter and his new Brothers. His service was exemplary and in 999.M41 he earned his Power Armor after battling with the nefarious Xenos, the Drukhari. Nearly as soon as Naevius had interfaced with his new set of MK IV 'Maximus' Power Armor, which had previously belonged to his Mentor and Sergeant, Raeliel Antrus, was he called to battle once again. He was to accompany Forge Master Quaeston to the sacred homeworld of the Blood Angels, Baal. The Hive Fleet Leviathan of the dreaded Xenos Tyranids Bioform threatened the spiritual home of the Sons of Sanguinius and the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, Dante, requested the Blood Drinkers to send support. The Blood Drinkers answered.

Naevius, along with the Forge Master and a good deal of his Brothers, arrived at the system of Baal. They arrived with the many other Sons of Sanguinius that answered the call of Dante. They landed shortly afterward and began to assist in whatever way possible to sure the defenses of the already mighty Arx Angelicum. Naevius did was he could as a newly promoted Tactical Marine. He assisted in the mustering of the Mortal troops, the bulking of weak-points in the defenses, and providing assistance to those of the others that were suffering from the Red Thirst and those who were falling to the Black Rage. Eventually though, there was little he could do. He then confined himself to pray to the Emperor of Mankind and his Father, Sanguinius. He was confined until the Xenos began their assault, then he went to the front and did what he could to fight the xenos, eventually becoming a master at killing the Tyranid life-forms. As he fought his Squad fell around him, cut apart by the Xenos that swarmed towards him in the Millions. Eventually the defenses faltered and Naevius was forced to retreat with the Commanders of the Chapters, all their heraldry soaked in the gore of the Xenos, indistinguishable by Chapter. They were one mind and body, Sons of Sanguinius one and all. They were Brothers. Eventually their defenses were stripped bare and Dante ordered they all to bear the Death Company Armor and insignia for a last charge, one last defiant hurrah against the filthy xenos. Naevius felt this was an honor he had yet to deserve but nonetheless he donned the Black Armor of the Condemned and committed to the Final Charge.

During the final charge Naevius witness Dante, Lord of the Angelic Host, fight the Swarmlord that seemed to rule over the Xenos, he watched and fought in awe at such an ancient warrior exacting such wounds against the beast. He fought and eventually saw Dante fall. He, and his Brothers, fought through the Xenos horde to reach the Chapter Master and did so. Then the skies opened up to reveal the Xenos Bio-ships to be gone, in their place there were Imperial Ships, that of the Primarch Roboute Guilliman, the Avenging Son of the Imperium. Naevius fought tooth and nail whilst the newly forged Primaris Marines descended in their thousands to assist the Sons of the Blood in felling all the Xenos that yet still lived on the field of battle.

Naevius then, with a detachment of his newly found Primaris Brothers, left Baal after a few months of recuperation. They returned to their Chapter Heroes, glorious and defiant in the face of the enemy. But this had exposed a weakness in the Blood Drinkers, they were not prepared for the Tyranids. Of the force they sent to Baal, only 10% of the original fighting force remained. As such, the Chapter Master Orloc called for volunteers to serve the Deathwatch and learn what they could of the Xenos threats of the Imperium, due to Naevius' experience at the Devastation of Baal, he volunteered enthusiastically, he wished to reap a great toll unto all Xenos in the galaxy, in reparation of the Thousands of his Brothers that he Lost upon the Sacred Worlds of Baal.

## Appearance

Naevius Ephrehn is a Medium Built Marine, in Astartes standards. He bears the paleish white complexion that afflicts many of his brethren and his skin is unnaturally dry, due to the curse that afflicts the Blood Drinkers Chapter. His hair is Golden Blonde that would flow in the wind, if it were long and well taken care of, but Naevius shaved it down like many of his brethren. His eyes are a crimson red that would unnerve mortals that looked into his eyes. His body is covered in scars from the Xenos Tyranids, though surprisingly he took fairly little damage in the Devastation.

## Personality

Naevius is a grim but light-hearted Astartes. He sees things as they are but wishes for all to be improved. He often could be found ministering to his Brothers in the Lore of Sanguinius and the Emperor-Almighty. He is highly regimented and likes to keep his spaces clean and pristine. He is a devout follower of the Imperial Creed, though not as the Ecclesiarchy would see it. He also is a firm believer that the Red Thirst and the Black Rage are not curses but actually blessings, given to them by his late Father. Though he is a young Astartes by comparison, he is a grizzled veteran and his attitude in battle often reflects this. Though he is proud of the Thirst and the Rage, he knows none except the Sons of the Angel should know of their blessings and will do what he must to keep it a secret.

## Abilities and Traits

Naevius Eprehn is a master at Tactical maneuvering and combining his flexibility as a Tactical Marine with the devastating tactics of an Assault Marine. He combines the powerful ranged assets at his disposal while he gets close to the enemy, where then he rips the enemies of Mankind limb from limb with his hands and weaponry alike. He is also a master at destroying many forms of Tyranids, often having a well-placed strategy to destroy them.

## Equipment

### Armour

Mk IV 'Maximus' Armor - Painted in the Colors of the Deathwatch, with accouterments on his armor displaying his proud heritage within the Blood Drinkers. His left arm bears the Deathwatch Pauldron and is painted Silver, as is standard. His right Pauldron proudly displays his Chapter Heraldry.

### Used Weapons

* Umbra Pattern Boltgun - Previously belonged to one of his Brothers who perished on Baal Secondus.
* Mark III Boltpistol - Standard Pattern and make
* Astartes Eviscerator - Given to Naevius following his Mentor's death.

### Munitions

* Standard Bolt-Rounds
* One Magazine Inferno-Rounds for Boltgun and Boltpistol