Great Feast

The **Great Feast** was one of the defining moments of the Great Crusade, one that showcased not merely the military power of the Imperium, but its culture, across untold hundreds of worlds. While the Great Feast is most often used to refer to the singular event that took place on the Brothers Encarmine homeworld of Bion, in truth the event stretched over hundreds of start systems across the Imperium, all within its boarders celebrating the unification of all the Primarchs once more.

## History

In M30.954, over 150 standard Terran years after the Great Crusade began, the last of the scattered Primarchs, now known to be named Artellion, Master of the XVth Legion, was found. Soon, word went out across the Imperium; the Emperor’s lost sons were united once more, all twenty of the legions had been made whole. Every astropath soon knew the news, the messages crystal clear, boosted, it is whispered, by the Emperor himself. And while the celebration upon its receipt was great, more was soon being planned for, this time by the twin lords of the XIIth Legion, Vinicius and Euphranor Geminius.

Upon their homeworld of Bion, the Twins soon gave word of a mighty event, one that would, in their own words, showcase the majesty and glory of the Imperium united. Soon to become known simply as, The Great Feast, it would be an event entirely unique in history, never before seen, and due to the events that would soon transpire, never to be repeated again.

Camelous of the Dragon Lords was first to arrive, bringing a sizeable part of his legion with him, though they remained in the hangar bays they had been assigned until the festivities began in earnest. Eventually however, more of the Primarchs began to arrive, as did the common people of the Imperium, or at least those who could afford to make the journey and secure their place on the world of such an event.

Some of the Primarchs arrived with little ceremony; Shaaa Hydrades of the IVth arrived with less than twenty warriors at his side, his innermost council and a squad of his Hydradyne honour guard, while Lu Yueh arrived with equally few warriors, though each one was impeccably turned out, a testament to the IInd Legion. Most of the Primarchs however arrived as the Emperor himself did, at the head of their legions in a mighty parade the likes of which had never been seen for its grandeur, and only eventually eclipsed by the Triumph of Ullanor itself. The Emperor marched at the head of the full might of the Companions of the Legio Custodes, Almire and his Imperial Justicars following closely behind in perfectly regimented and arrayed ranks, a testament to their military efficiency and discipline, heads held high and maces crashing against shields in perfect tandem with their lockstep march. Others still used the time to elevate their legions or to showcase their own individual prowesses. Bartosz of the Palatine Wings arrived at the head of the Peruns, his elite guardians, each one mounted upon the newly devised Equus Maxium mounts, creatures of flesh and steel suitable to carry an Astartes into battle after the Imperial Sagittarius. Surmah, of the XXth Legion, long seen as naught but killers and savages for their role as the final sanction, also turned heads, his sons bedecked in gleaming armour, looking every bit as noble as any of the other legions, many being confused to see such from their number, expecting them to hold themselves little better than other savage legions such as the War Bears.

Abner of the Light Bringers likewise made a statement in his arrival, though one that was far darker than impressive and unlike many, it was not one to be remembered fondly. The Pariah Lord of the Xth Legion arrived at the head of not just two full Aether Companies, but a sizeable contingent of the Vacuous Choir, the strongest pariahs amongst the legion. No one challenged Abner, his right to bring his own bodyguard the same as every other Primarch’s, but there were whispers that the draining effect their blank aura had on all who were near them was well known and counted on in Abner’s mind.

And then finally, when all 19 Legions and 20 Primarch’s stood upon the surface of Bion, the last found arrived at the head of the new XVth. The XVth Legion, once known as the Faceless Heralds, had not been seen for over a year, their numbers disappearing from the Great Crusade in the wake of Artellion’s finding, all building up to the moment they stepped into the sun once more, faceless no more, as the Silver Basilisks greeted the Imperium as a legion reborn. Descending alongside his council and with an entire company of his warriors, the Silver Basilisks poured all their artifice into their singular entrance, creating artificial stormclouds with technology and psychic mastery, alongside thunderous music played from dozens of dropships. The legion had often been looked down on, one of their genetic flaws leading them to shy away from others, but under the hand of their new Lord, they hid no longer. Their arrival was perfectly choreographed in a way that none of his brothers could hope to match upon that day, with Artellion having prepared for the moment almost since his finding, determined that his first impression would never be forgotten. This he certainly achieved, as those watching erupted into applause and cheers of adulation, no thoughts given to the legion's mutation as they once might have. Many humans were deafened in those moments, the sheer scope of the sound rupturing eardrums, though none so afflicted ever expressed regret, proud to have witnessed such an event.

For the first and last time since their initial scattering, the Primarchs were united, each of them retiring to a glorious feasting hall the Geminius Twins had ordered to be built for this exact occasion. Most forwent their armour, arriving in garments that closely mirrored their own worlds cultures, though some, namely Shaaa Hydrades, Charon and Camelous, remained in their armour. Shaaa wearing his lighter suit rather than his full Terminator plate, but all three still arrayed as if they were mere moments from battle, more comfortable in their wargear than in casual attire.

The revelry and merriment that was had that night was legendary; laughter and camaraderie was had between almost all present, with only those who shared the deepest seated loathing of one another avoiding contact. As the night wore on, the food was replaced increasingly by alcohol, Kodiak in particular providing the well known, and feared, Skaran Ale in great quantities, a drink known to be able to affect even a Primarch, while killing almost any other creature that consumed it. Predictably, the evening descended from there, Kodiak, Caladrial, and even Lu Yueh beginning a contest of alcoholic endurance, the Kastarian Rum mingling with the Skaran Ale and Lu Yuen’s own personal brews. To the surprise of many, Lu Yueh lasted longer than any other, his natural resistance to poisons and toxic substances placing him in good stead against the effects of the alcohol.

The feasting and drinking were but one of the many spectacular events the Twins had prepared to showcase to the Imperium and their assembled brothers, the pair having spared no expense to ensure the event was of the highest quality imaginable. And in their mind, no such occasion would be complete without the glory of the Games; gladiatorial matches of skill and honour that Bion was known for, ones the Twins themselves had grown up with, and now, in the very arena that they themselves had once fought within to the roar of adoring crowds, a gauntlet was laid down.

A champion from each legion would enter, each match not to the death nor to the first blood, but until one warrior fell and could fight no more, either through injury or admittance of defeat. Only the XIIth themselves did not enter a champion; the Geminus Twins claiming that were they to enter one of their fabled Conjux pairs, most likely the duo known as the Statius Cojunx, would present an unfair advantage over the solo fighters of the other legions. Moreover, it would not do for the host of such an event to present the wreath of victory to a pair of their own.

Soon, the champions were arrayed, the order of their bouts decided by random selection, and the games began. The crowds roared their approval, watching the unthinkable as Astartes fought against Astartes. Most of these duels were just that, honourable and fought until a victor emerged, the loser graciously accepting his defeat and yielding, but some were different, notably that between Tursari of the Hounds of Surmah and Surag Genden of the Palatine Wings, the two legions already having clashed on ideological differences a scant few years earlier, the bout only ending when Surag finally fell, battered, bloodied and unconscious. Eventually, only two remained, Tursari clashing with Imothes of the Watchers of Akhet in a battle that would be remembered throughout eternity.

In the end however, there was no victor, the fight lasting for hours; day turning to night and back to day again, before Khnum and Surmah finally intervened, stopping the duel before their sons killed each other and so bringing the tournament to a close.

With the tournament finished, the Great Feast ended, though many of the Primarch’s remained on Bion for some time afterwards, the Geminus Twins vowing that upon the completion of the Great Crusade, they would host another event, eclipsing this one in every way. Unbeknownst to all however, such an event would never, and indeed could never, come to pass, events transpiring a mere eight years later that saw [REDACTED BY EDICT OF OBLITERATION]

## Bouts of the Great Games

### Round One

* **Sor Talgron** of the Word Bearers *versus* **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
	+ Victor - **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmar
* **Raldoron** of the Blood Angels *versus* **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
	+ Victor - **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
* **Xoticue** of the Claws of Xipac *versus* **Durath** of the Ashen Crows
	+ Victor - **Durath** of the Ashen Crows

### Round Two

* **Baltar Cordaan** of the Sirens of Kastar *versus* **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
	+ Victor - **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
* **Auratus Primo** of the War Bears *versus ...* of the Gilded Vanguard
	+ Victor - *...* of the Gilded Vanguard
* **Helel** of the Light Bringers *versus* **Durath** of the Ashen Crows
	+ Victor - **Helel** of the Light Bringers
* **Imothes** of the Watchers of Akhet *versus* **Qíshì** of the Blight Wardens
	+ Victor - **Imothes** of the Watchers of Akhet
* **Sirvan Golz** of the Star Guardians *versus* **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
	+ Victor -**Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
* **Eirian Carhaix** of the Silver Basilisks *versus* **Mordred** of the Dragon Lords
	+ Victor - **Eirian Carhaix** of the Silver Basilisks
* **Surag Genden** of the Palatine Wings *versus* **Achios of Ilnoss** of the Wisps of Archeron
	+ Victor - **Surag Genden** of the Palatine Wings
* **???** of the Seekers of Unity *versus* **Brutus** of the Consuls Exemplar
	+ Victor - **Brutus** of the Consuls Exemplar

### Round Three

* **Eirian Carhaix** of the Silver Basilisks *versus* **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
	+ Victor - **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
* **Brutus** of the Consuls Exemplar *versus* **Surag Genden** of the Palatine Wings
	+ Victor - **Surag Genden** of the Palatine Wings
* **...** of the Gilded Vanguard *versus* **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
	+ Victor - **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
* **Imothes** of the Watchers of Akhet *versus* **Helel** of the Light Bringers
	+ Victor - **Imothes** of the Watchers of Akhet

### Semi-finals

* **Surag Genden** of the Palatine Wings *versus* **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
	+ Victor - **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
* **Imothes** of the Watchers of Akhet *versus* **Jean Davoust** of the Imperial Justicars
	+ Victor - **Imothes** of the Watchers of Akhet

### Finals

* I**mothes** of the Watchers of Akhet *versus* **Tursari Härkönen** of the Hounds of Surmah
	+ Victor - Draw

## Dramatis Personae

### Non-Legion

* The Emperor of Mankind
* Malcador the Sigillite, First Regent of Terra
* Captain General Constantin Valdor of the Legio Custodes
* Three Hundred Hetaeron Guard of the Legio Custodes
* Unnumbered wealthy elite from across the Imperium

### *Legiones Astartes*

**The Watchers of Akhet**

* Khnum-Anhuret "The Sunstone King"
* The Djenn
	+ Iyp
	+ Phiorna
	+ Wodjen
	+ Hori-Re
	+ Kuori
	+ Kaiban
	+ Deios

* Imothes - The Legion Champion
* The Djenn's Apprentices
	+ Anukeps
	+ Mekhit
	+ Aesculapius
	+ Ani - Khnum's Adoptive Grandfather
	+ Kiya - Khnum's Adoptive Grandmother

* The First Ten Companies of Watchers of Ahket

**The Blight Wardens**

* Lu Yueh Zhi Zi "The Jade Father"
* Qíshì - The Legion Champion
* Wang Mi - Lu Yueh's Adoptive Daughter and Personal Biographer
* The Fu zhi Sheng "The Voice of the Father" Lu Yueh's Personal Guard

**The Claws of Xipac**

* Necalli "The Cutter of Men"
* Xoticue - The Legion Champion

**The Star Guardians**

* Shaaa Hydrades "The Breacher Lord"
* The Syriac
	+ Lord Commander Crikon Hanfer
	+ Fracturam Lord Commander Varinius Rampt
	+ Commander Julius Atalan

* Commander Sirvan Golz - The Legion Champion
* Legatus Braden Jaxer of the Hydra Auxilia
* Ten Hydradyne
* Household Guard of the Hydra Auxilia

**The Sirens of Kastar**

* Calandrial Hex "The Emerald Corsair"
* Baltar Cordaan - The Legion Champion

**The Seekers of Unity**

* Veratal Dharma "The Voice of Truth"

**The War Bears**

* Kodiak Ursidae "The Bear of Skara"
* Auratus Primo - The Legion Champion
* The Entire War Bears Legion

**The Gilded Vanguard**

* Jacinto

**The Blood Angels**

* Sanguinius "The Great Angel"
* Chapter Master Raldoron
* No other Blood Angel sets foot on the world, Sanguinius providing no reason for their extreme lack of numbers.

**The Light Bringers**

* Abner Cassian "The Empty Sun"
* Helel - The Legion Champion
* Two Aether Companies
* Large Contingent of the Vacuous Choir

**The Ashen Crows**

* Galvarian "The First Ember"
* Galos "The Kiln Keeper"
* Lord Furgol Durath - The Legion Champion

**The Brothers Encarmine**

* Vinicius & Euphrano Geminius "Twin Lords of Love and War"
* The Entirety of the Brothers Encarmine Legion

**The Consuls Exemplar**

* Gaius Augustus Caligula "The Thousand-Armed Centurion"
* Brutus Alexander- The Legion Champion

**The Palatine Wings**

* Bartosz "The Imperial Sagittarius"
* First Hussar Surag Genden "The Storm Blade", lord of the Perundan and the Legion Champion
* Skycaptain Danel Rasna - Lord of the Svetovid
* Jarog Epistolary Dykyn Harlak - Lord of the Jarog
* Aquilifer Sa'al Kova
* The Triglav

**The Silver Basilisks**

* Artellion Emerabron "The Argent Serpent"
* The Bogron - Artellion's Personal Council
* Captain Lamor of the 3rd Company
* Eirian Carhaix - The Legion Champion
* The Entire Silver Basilisks Legion
	+ The 3rd Company "The Stom Serpents"

**The Imperial Justicars**

* Almire Leoric
* Praetor Jean Davoust

**The Word Bearers**

* Lorgar Aurelian "The Urizen"
* Captain Sor Talgron - The Legion Champion
* The Entire Word Bearers Legion

**The Wisps of Acheron**

* Charon "The Wight Lord "
* Achios of Ilnoss - The Legion Champion
* Emissary Nemes - Mortal Attendant of Charon
* Eighty Eight Currently Favoured Captains of the Wisps of Acheron

**The Dragon Lords**

* Camelous "The Invictii"
* Mordred - The Legion Champion
* A Large host of Dragon Lords
* A Large host of Rememberancers

**The Hounds of Surmah**

* Surmah Nyyrik "The Hound of the Moors"
* Tursari Härkönen - The Legion Champion
* The vast Majority of the Hounds of Surmah