Godric Cynebeorn

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## Physical Description

### **Weight**

(To be added)

**Godric Cynebeorn** is the Primarch of the Vth Legiones Astartes, known as the Imperial Rangers.

## History

### Youth

Godric Cynebeorn's pod crash-landed in the vicinity of a tribe called the Caldii, who lived in seclusion. He was picked up by a huntress named Brona Hildsmit, the daughter of the tribes' smithies. The introduction of this outsider infant to this tribe was mixed, as for all they know, it could be a trick from the Feii, but Brona kept the child for her to protect and nurture alone. Reluctantly, the druids of the tribe named him “Godric”. Godric grew at an exponential rate, though, which brought the eyre of many of the townsfolk, with some believing he was a miracle sent from their patron god Cald, others affirming their belief that Godric is trick, an ill-omen, and some questioned their own sanity. However, despite the short years, Brona raised Godric well, teaching him to hunt. Brona’s parents taught their newly adopted grandson how to work the forge. Although being raised to hunt, Godric wasn’t allowed to leave far from the wooden walls of the village, as even though Brona loved him, she still found his nature odd, unsure whether he was a blessing or curse.

One day, the village was disrupted when a fellow tribesman was found on the back of his Morg, dead, shot by something not even the druids knew. Godric had made a friend in a man named Signar, a fellow hunter with whom he had a friendly rivalry, and so they decided to investigate (without permission), tracing the blood towards a stone circle, which was unknowingly part of the Exodite’s world shrine. However, the place was guarded, as a herd of Morgs tried to defend their turf from these invaders. Godric and Signar prepared themselves to face off this tide with only their swords, bows and spears, making a bet with each other to see who will rank the most kills. However, although Signar used the stone-circle’s slabs to maintain height, Godric was leaping off trees, coaxing the horns of the Morgs and confounding the feral beasts, even toppling a stone to crush one into paste. Godric scored one Morg over Signar.

When this event was relayed to the village, a great uproar erupted, with Godric’s sceptics blaming him for such danger. Brona was upset that Godric would run off without her permission, but still vouched for him in front of the tribal leader and the druids. The druids communed together and feared that such an event may have marked Godric and Wignar as enemies to the Feii. Therefore, the tribal leader had Godric and Signar exiled, for the safety of the village. And so, with a parting hug farewell to his mother, Godric left with Signar. Unwittingly, by toppling the stone, Godric and Signar disturbed the Exodite World Shrine, stirring up the Exodites and their beasts.

### Heroics on Brytath

Godric and Signar started roaming from village to village, town to town, as monster hunters for hire. They gained much prestige for their skill and bravery. Once, when they defeated a Flovoc – a skittery predator with an acidic spit which melted the two’s weapons and armour, and which Godric smashed with a boulder – they were invited to the halls of King Hron, of the kingdom of Nroth, one of the few established kingdoms. This kingdom was hardy, close the northern wastes where the Exodites drove the Grends, but had recently become a prime target for the Grends to raid. While feasting, a Grend warband of ten advanced towards the town of Nrothwick, causing havoc and bloodshed along the fields, stealing tamed Morgs and drinking tons of beer. Godric commanded Signar to distract the Grends, while he leads the rallying men and women. At the walls, Signar, Godric, and the people of Nroth fought the Grends. However, the Grends began to break through the defences. So, Godric threw his spear into one of the Grends’ eyes, leapt up onto it, tore out the spear and stabbed the other, causing it to flail. Godric started slamming the Grend in the face, making it topple away from the city walls. Godric leapt to the next one, piercing its chest with his spear and then, using the spear to aid his climb, thrust his weapon into the throat of the Grend. As it fell, he took off his armour to allow him to jump further towards another Grend, standing even taller than the rest, and held onto his arm. However, the Grend threw him off, and his spear landed far away from him. So, Godric clambered up his back, and then, when he reached the top, despite the violent jerking of the Grend, he drew him closer to the walls, and, when he had called out to the defenders, the Grend was devastated by a barrage of spears and arrows. The rest who remained, only three, fled in the fear they had not known in centuries.

Godric and Signar were dubbed by Hron “Cynebeorn” and received new armour and weapons. However, Godric and Signar were not content with just this victory and waged a campaign alongside bold men and women to take down the Grends once and for all. It was a brutal war, with numerous casualties, but victory was ultimately achieved, and the Grends, the indigenous peoples of Brytath, were driven to extinction.

Once they returned, Godric and Signar had not long until their next quarry, as the Exodites had begun to reveal themselves. Godric and Signar were among the many warriors who fought against the Exodites, for the sake of humanity on Brytath, but they were all quickly outmanoeuvred by the swiftness of the Exodites and their reptilian cavalry, the shrieks of the Moonscreams, and the sheer terror at what people claimed to be a dragon. Even Godric and Signar were bested and had to flee lest they be cut down. One time, underneath a lake, in a burial tomb, he faced against an Exodite warlock who was claiming a weapon which she believed belonged to their ancestors- a Witchblade. She condemned Godric for driving the Grends to extinction, even if they were brutes, for that disrupting nature’s balance. The two engaged in a duel, which soon became one-sided as the Exodite warlock overpowered him with debilitating spells, though his resilience kept him in the battle. But soon, he was bested, as he was barely able to make a mark upon her, but she did not relent. It was only through Signar’s intervention with his bow, piercing the warlock and allowing Godric to grab the sword and cleave the warlock. However, it did not feel like a sweet victory- and Godric’s mind compelled him to take a new perspective, though he didn’t know what.

Godric and Signar returned to their home of the Caldii tribe, where he met with his dear mother, and Signar with his parents. However, the druids still feared him, and implored him to leave the village. Godric did, begrudgingly, and he stormed off to the stones where he had faced the tide of Morgs. There was a lone druid, who offered Godric aid and clarity in the oncoming battles and, with the aid of a concoction taken from rare herbs, helped Godric come to a revelation – he needed to study the enemy tactics, to understand them, and outwit them. So, looking back on the defeats, and meditating for hours at a time, he developed a string of ambush tactics to take down the Exodites, flanking the Exodites, crippling their beasts, and becoming aware of one’s surroundings and attuning to them. A series of battles launched as the World Shrine was weakened by the human forces.

The climax came when Godric faced the mythic Dragon of Brytath. Godric expected his men to come fight at his side, but the Moonscreams stirred his men into utter fear, making them flee, even Signar. And so, Godric had to face his enemy alone, with only his arms and his impressive brawn. Godric tried to coax the dragon away from the battlefield, and towards dense foliage, where the dragon would be reluctant to burn. Days were spent as the two circled each other, hunting each other. But neither got in a fatal blow. But, Signar came to aid Godric, and they both fought the dragon. Godric lured the dragon into an open field, before Signar had the dragon swoop in and crash into trees- wounding himself in the process. Godric came into a final blow against the dragon and slew it. Signar died as Godric ran towards him, and a funeral was held in his honour, for all those who died in the wars against the Exodites. The Exodites themselves migrated and vanished, salvaging the remnants of their World Shrine.

This victory made Godric famous throughout humankind, for his leadership, skill, and cunning, as well as his devotion to the gods. However, for his troubles, he was offered a small part of land, close to where he killed the dragon. The druid, who communed with Godric at the stones, came to him and asked whether Godric wanted such a meagre reward. Godric tried to wave the question, saying that he does not care to be a king. The druid then asked whether it was true. Godric relented and replied no, but that does not mean he should. And so, the druid said that it was for a higher purpose, even he could not know, and that he was destined.

### Arrival of the Emperor

War broken out between the Squats and the humans. The squats emerged from their mining colonies after thousands of years of hiding from the outside world, and they feared the humans would advance and destroy them. The Squats had more technology, and the human kings grew divided, leading to catastrophic defeat after catastrophic defeat. Godric then went around the villages, amassing support, and summoned a meeting between the tribes, kingships and himself, demanding that he be made the king over all the lands, to defeat the squats. Some assented to give up their independence for the sake of their life, but others did not, and some even reached for their own swords. It was then when a man, in shining gold armour, with a gleaming halo of laurel on his head, and a blazing sword, barged into the meeting with almost as resplendent custodians, wielding polearms. This man claimed that Godric was the rightful majesty, and that all who defy will taste his own blade. Godric demanded to know who he was, and he replied, ‘I am the Emperor of Mankind, saviour of humanity, and you are one of my sons.’. Godric took a knee and started to praise him as if he was a god, to which the Emperor slammed his foot, blasting everyone back, except his custodes, and demanded he not be called a god. The Emperor offered the aid of the legion, which Godric was the progenitor of, to fight the war against the squats. Godric had to learn the new technologies, and gain the trust of his legion, who were named the ‘Imperial Rangers’ by the Emperor. The squats did not expect the legions of super-human warriors tearing into them and their hold- crushing them. Moreover, rogue squat factions offered their aid to the humans, bringing support in fire-arms, as well as granting Godric his two-handed sword, Grend's End. The invading squats, however were defeated, and many stubbornly died instead of bowing to the new masters of the world.

After the war, Godric was enamoured by his almost divine father, and was in the middle of relating to the mythologies and beliefs of his people, when the Emperor told him to quit these heresies, and explained the Imperial Truth and the immorality of religion. Godric, begrudgingly, gave up his beliefs, along with his people, to align with the Imperial Truth. All the kingdoms, now united, swore fealty to the Imperium, and those who foolishly rioted were suppressed.

## Wargear

Grend's End- Grend's End is a two-handed heavy sword which the leader of the rogue Squats forged as an offering for Godric. Godric used this typically to break through hordes of enemies, swinging it in cleaving throes.

Signar's Remembrance- Signar's Remembrance is a spear forged by Godric personally, with the tutelage of the Emperor of Mankind. The spear takes blueprints from the Guardian Spear of the Custodes, but with a piercing tip, and has no bolter attachment. It has proven most effective in duelling and facing larger foes, and it is able to pierce through most forms of armour.

Cald's Aegis- Cald's Aegis is the Storm-Shield of Godric Cynebeorn.