Mortigar

**This article, Mortigar, was written by Emperors Potato, Lord of Dawi and Spuds. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Mortigar

Symbol of the Red Crusaders, the chapter of Mortigar

## Character

### **Role(s)**

Influential chaplain and relic collector of the Red Crusaders

## Biographical Data

### **Marital Status**

Alive

"*Word bearer...you will tell me everything! What happened at Monarchia?!*"
—Mortigar shortly after capturing a Word Bearer leader in the Korivin Conflict
**Mortigar** is a notable Chaplain of the Red Crusaders Space Marine Chapter. A curious brother, he enjoyed seeking out lost knowledge and old lore in order to better himself and his knowledge of the events of the past. However, after being captured and brutally tortured to the point of madness, his personality and world views changed drastically. He eventually managed to escape his gaolers, and despite his terrible experiences, he still follows the tenets of his faith, though the dark seeds of doubt have been sown into this once indomitable Astartes.

## History

Once a zealous and eccentric chaplain, he enjoyed collecting relics. He delved into Necron vaults to find their secrets. His armor was made of relics messily put together down to his unorthodox skull mask, a skull with what looked like a stitch in it with string like "Hair" at the back, recovered from some unknown battlefield. But he changed. His investigative nature led him to discover a heretical book, a book that bore poison to stop men from reading it. He read it, and he learned of Monarchia. When he visited it to confirm his fears he was captured by the Word Bearers and tortured to near insanity. They confirmed his worst fears. He barely escaped, having to dissolve his wrists with acid to escape his bonds.

The Ultramarines saved him, and replaced his hands with something he hated. Machines. He was tested for heresy and sent back to his chapter. He told the Reclusiarch and other chaplains of his findings and theories. They came to the conclusion the men of Monarchia must have truly been heretics all along, and when the emperor said not to worship him he was referring to their demented worship. This settled it for most of the others chaplains who heard it and where sworn to secrecy, but not Mortigar. The Word Bearers did terrible things to the old chaplain, and he had seeds of doubt for the faith he had carried all his life.

Mortigar is still an eccentric man, with a love of relics, both of man and, somewhat secretly xenos, but has phases of complete silence, where he seems locked within his own mind. Some who aren't around him much would say nothing has changed. But those who know him well detect something different in his eyes. The biggest change is he once prided himself on the width of his knowledge and held the belief that all knowledge is power. He now believes to much knowledge, like that he possesses is a burden. He has even become less of a man, bearing two metal hands instead of those of flesh and bone due to horrible experiences under capture of the Word Bearers. His prestige within the chapter is great, if at sometimes questionable. To the point where when Morganus was gone to the great rift, he was momentarily Reclusiarch.

## Campaigns and Adventures

### Before Becoming a Chaplain

The early life of Mortigar is largely unknown other then the fact that he was born on Arabyar. What little knowledge is known is skillfully gleamed from his rambles. He says he is among the oldest marines still alive in the chapter and judging by his experience it may well be true. He has declared that he served on a multitude of various campaigns before becoming chaplain, and somewhere along the line it can be assumed that then he developed his love for relics and the occasional xenos-tech. In this era he also distinguished himself for zeal and search for knowledge. Some discouraged this, but Morganus did not, and he appears to have frequently served to have fought aside Morganus. He is known to have gained a friendship with Morganus somewhere in this time that aided him in his eventual becoming of a chaplain.

* **Mortigar's Delving (922.M41-924.M41)** - The Chaplain Mortigar, one of the oldest of the chapters and who some call mad, read tales of the Necron threat on Arabyar that had been extinguished by the old Grail-Knight Yokim. He reasoned that the ruins of the Necron pyramid so long forgotten could house Necron relics, and if there were in fact potential Necron relics they could be a potential threat to the chapter, and better in the chapters hands. So Mortigar took a small band of Space Marines, maybe 25, and delved into the ruins of the Pyramid toppled by Yokim. He found a deep underground complex, and took his marines beneath the sand and into the complex. It was then he was attacked. Chaotic human scavengers had been living and breeding in these tunnels for times unknown. There makeshift weapons were no problem to the space marines, but Mortigar worried they may have scavenged some of the relics. Mortigar and his men rushed to find the chamber where they would be kept, eventually coming across a sealed down. From a hole in the roof scavengers jumped and were quickly killed. Being alerted to the presence of the hole the marines climbed into it, climbing out into the relic chamber, or what was left of it. Much of the room had collapsed. And they saw the heart of the scavenger forces, around 50 by a fire in the middle, tinkering with relics of unknown ability. The marines engaged, and slew a majority of the cultist before one set off a bomb. It began to tick. Mortigar ordered his marines to leave through the tunnel. He stayed and shot as many cultists as possible and collected as many relics as he could carry, before leaving and sealing the entrance to leave the cultist to there fate. What exactly was uncovered is somewhat obscured, but Mortigar has a new gun. What looks like some kind of Necron disintegrator with a bayonet and a Aquilla. Some men of the chapter have argued with him over use of xenotech, but the old chaplain is unshaken.

* **Battle of Trachmund (Unknown.M42)** - Mortigar received a distress call from the fallen governor of Trachmund as he travelled space for new relics. The governor said that rebellious former guardsmen, the agents of liberty, allied with the Emperor's Liberators traitor marines had found his reign "Tyrannical" and taken over the system. After much debate, and the possibility that relics could be found in Trachmund, Mortigar rallied a large crusading force to take to Trachmund. He set his sights on purging the traitors and finding the relics hidden within the world. As he arrived, the battle had already begun. Aveleonii Guardsmen had already begun pushing back the agents. Mortigar released his Red Crusaders on them. Mortigar knew that the agents worshipped the emperor as they did, as did the Crusader army. But breaking away from the Imperium is a great heresy. Mortigar, somewhat covertly took scouts to the ruins of a imperial shrine. If his intel was correct a ancient relic should be here, a spear forged from unknown material, and supposedly wielded by a primarch. Mortigar didn't believe that, but something was undoubtably special about it. Him and his scouts landed there, only to find a battle already raging. Marines from the Destroyers of Worlds were engaging agents, and so his men deployed straight into the ruins, the scouts guarding its perimeter as the tactical squad he took engaged the enemy. As he rummaged through the temple he heard footsteps, and the Emperor's Liberators commander Jonesson appeared. After some quick words, the Human met the Superhuman in a duel. A duel that would not see to its completion. As battles raged across the worlds of the system a greater threat arrived. Tyranids. All of the forces that were previous foes made a deal, and worked together to destroy the Tyranid menace. Mortigar fought beside Jonesson agaisnt the tyranids, and of the forces, due to heroics and never retreating his Red Crusaders took the most casualties to Tyranids. By the time they had beaten back the foul bugs and destroyed their ships, his crusade was severe;ly depleted. He made a deal with the Agents. He had gained respect for them fighting the Tyranids, and no longer had the forces to carry on the fight. They returned missing gene seed and armor, and he left them. With the relic he wanted in hand of course. The Aveleonii also left, while the destroyers stayed, continuing to quash the threat of the agents in the worlds the Destroyers had taken hold of.

* **Necrons on Cyprus (925.M41))** - Mortigar was gathering men on Cyprus for a expedition to retake Imperial lands holding the border against Tyranids. Until Necrons arrived. A fleet appeared in the Sanctus system. The Imperial fleets formed a blockade against them, forcing them to make landfall on Cyprus. Mortigar rallied Cyprus defenses which included Guardsmen, Sororitas and his Space Marines. The Necron forces were larger then imagined. They landed in one of the grand fortresses of Cyprus, and Guardsmen gathered there hopefully, expecting the defenses would hold and allow them to slaughter the machines. They did not expect the Necrons had a C'tan shard. The Shard slaughtered the guard forces there and broke the fortress. Mortigar received information that these necrons were escaping a fallen tombworld that had recently been conquered by Marchise. And better news in that Marchise was coming. Mortigar ensured through troop placement they could hold key positions for at least three months until Marchise arrived. They succeeded, barely, losing one of the key points to the Necrons endless march. Canonnes Marlot of the Sisters of the Grail led a counter attack to retake it as Marchise arrived. His forces joined hers, and they together retook it. Mortigar, Marlot and Marchise together were barely able to take out the C'tan shard. The fleets of Sanctus rallied in full force to attack that of the Necrons, and the Necron ships began to break. Marchise won a duel with the Necrons lord, Asrabal, and the robotic horde was defeated with the sounds of the detonating Necron vessel being heard even on Arabyar.

* **Siege of Sanctus (930.M41-940.M41)** - After ages of relative peace in the sub-sector, a major war happened in the heart of the Red Crusaders. Sanctus came under attack by a terrible horde of enemies. Word Bearers and World Eaters descended from the warp with hearts full of rage. They landed on Cyprus and began to tear through its forces. The Red Crusaders were elsewhere, and believing Sanctus secure where shocked when they heard of this new threat. They arrived on the Sub-Sector in force. Aengius was at the lead and with his fleet he attacked the wretched Word Bearers. His men infiltrated them ship by ship. taking more and more halls every day. But then, half way through there battle a new enemy arrived. Drukhari exited the web way and attacked both sides. They quickly swooped down onto Cyprus while joining the naval combat above. Aengius had finally breached the bridge of the Word Bearers vessel, and as he dueled its leader the Drukhari arrived and slaughtered forces from both sides as the battle went on, snatching up some marines and leaving before the fight was over. Aengius was furious at this. After the word beaters ship had been dispatched he ordered his men to quickly chase the Drukhari vessel. The chase led them all the way back to the Sentar System. Meanwhile at Sub Sector Sanctus the World Eaters has broken though Cyprus and passed on to Sanctus. At last the main part of the invasion began. World eaters landed in the desert of Sanctus, and then used it as a staging point to attack the wider planet. All this fightiness in the sub sector was a appeasing prospect for Orks. Warboss Ginsmack arrived with his mighty WAAAGH, His Roks careened into Sanctus. Chaplain Mortigar rallied men to the defense of Sanctus and took control of some Guard regiments. He led them to engage the recently landed Ork forces, holding them in place while the Space Marines prepares to launch into them. The ploy worked, a little. But the marines had not the numbers to defeat both enemies. All they could do was use a variety of tactics, like bombardments, defenses and walls of men to blockade the attackers in the desert and away from the hive city. This to worked for a time. Orks and Chaos Marines battled and bled each other out in the sands of Sanctus few remaining deserts, blind to what was to come. While the Red Crusaders began to taste victory, another for approached. Tyranids appeared from the edge of the galaxy, and Sanctus was on the edge. A tendril stuck its way into the Sanctus Sub Sector. Orks, World Eaters, and Red Crusaders a like turned there attentions to the bugs. The Orks did first. They hopped back into their ships and charged those of the bugs. About half the world eaters did the same. The Red Crusaders took advantage of so many leaving and struck the forces left. For about two months they crushed the remaining World Eaters and Orks on the planet. The forces they had used to attack the hive fleet were depleted, and when the Red Crusader fleet really took to the skies they found very little left of the world eaters or Orks. They shot these final ships down with great fury. Then they turned to the Tyranids. Tyranids landed on Sanctus, and all on Arabyar breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't on them. However the Arabyar regiments did come to Sanctus aid. Marchise Crimson led the attacks against the horde of Tyranids, winning victories on Sanctus. Louen attacked the Tyranid ship, and his elite men carved a path of destruction through the ship. It was many marines first encounter with Tyranids. Marines evacuated the Tyranids vessel, for the final hit to be dealt. Cyclonic missiles barraged the Tyranids main ship and destroyed it, the rest barely retreated under heavy fire. Sub Sector Sanctus was damaged, but saved.

* **The Book of the Traitor (950.M41 - 952.M41)** - Mortigar was with squires in the Second Temple. The Second Temple is known to contain a great library of the Red Crusaders, and the scouts were exited to peruse it. They were being trained, and Mortigar was there to check the library for a certain book that could lead him to some ancient relics. He then saw something most dire. A dead scout, seemingly fine in the halls of the Second Temple. And he wasn't the first. More and more appeared. Mortigar was curious. Investigators reasoned it was a poison. Mortigar wanted to conduct his own investigation. He reasoned it seemed nothing had been ingested, and thus must have been administered to the body, not the mouth. But it had not affected marines. Mortigar, though slightly mad had been quite the smart man in his younger days. And he came up with a new conclusion. It had not affected full marines because they rarely left their armor. Scouts wore light armor, most of which doesn't cover their hands. And it was a library. Mortigar came to the conclusion that the books must be administering poison. He ordered the library empty, backed up by the Reclusiarch Morganus. He searched for signs of recently used books, and found one in a restricted section. A section scouts could not use. A book that according to library records had never been used, and for good reason. Its author was proudly displayed on the side of the book. Mordread. Mortigar took it to his chambers and studied it. It had been poisoned! But not by scouts. And only high ranking marines, like the Templars had potential to check out books without leaving records...he read it. And its dark truths stunned him. It told tales of a world called Khur. The book was written in a rambling form, the dark thoughts of the traitor Mordread. Someone had poisoned it so its truths could not be read. Mortigar was resolved. Without telling anyone, including Morganus. He took a small ship with one squad of the same men who had accompanied him to the necron tombs long ago. he had to see Monarchia for himself. If the Emperor was divine, why would he burn a city that believed him such? And could the words of a traitor be trusted? He arrived at the ruins of Monarchia, and saw nothing. It was completely razed. As he stood amongst dust, he was ambushed. Him and his squad were attacked by Word Bearers. His squad was quick to fall, and as the Word Bearers commander appeared Mortigar bravely challenged him to a duel. He lost. Mortigar was taken captive. Mortigar awoke in the Word Bearers' ship. He was in full armor, but kept in a empty room, suspended on a table. He was chained to it. He could see his weapons in the corner. Mortigar does not talk about what they did to him. But he was told dark things. Even worse secrets. Proof of the razing of Monarchia. Of the Emperors hate for Lorgars religious ways. And tortured physically as well. Mortigar had nearly broken before help arrived. Ultramarines arrived onto the World Bearer vessel. They slaughtered their way through. When his captures were gone fighting, Mortigar said a prayer. Regardless of the Emperors feelings, he helped the faithful. Mortigar knew this. He felt a small boost of strength. But his faith was severely shaken. His helmet was gone, and his legs weren't chained. He had a idea. Using purely his acidic spit, he burnt off his hands at the wrists. This let him free. He trudged to his weapons, not able to grab them. He collapsed. And would have died if aid had not come. A ultramarine found him. And took him to the Ultramarine ship as they won victory over the Word Bearers. He awoke in their hospital facility. He would have metal hands grafted on. This struck fear into him. Machines have no zeal! Machines are nearly unholy. He then knocked out. And awoke from the terrible procedure, unable to feel his arms. His armor made of relics he had discovered, colored black, was damaged. He found his weapons. The Ultramarines recovered his ship, and gave him some servitors to fly to Sanctus. But first they had to test him. He went through painful exams to prove he was not corrupted. He succeeded. and Went home in misery. He met his Reclusiarch Morganus, who asked him of his ruined form. Mortigar denied an answer. But he explained his theories. He explained the book...Monarchia to a council of all of the chaplains on Sanctus. It shook them as it shook him. And for a day, the chaplains were not heard from. They discussed theology greatly, reasoning and theorizing behind their closed doors. Thoughts that they could be killed for even thinking of them. Mortigar was solemn the whole time, his old excitement and eccentricity almost gone from his eyes. Why did he bless the faithful, yet burn Lorgars? Morganus theory was excepted. Monarchia must have been using his worship as a charade. They were not true devotees, simply lies. If a book of Mordread is to be trusted at all. This settled it for most chaplains. But for Mortigar, seeds of doubt weighed heavy in his mind. He excepted when Morganus proposed the books final fate. They would do what the chapter could not for generations, and threw it into fire where it belonged. They swore themselves to keep its contents secret from all, and Morganus settled the case of murdered scouts as being poisoned by traitors, and that he and his men would handle it. And that was the end of the death of scouts. If only it was that simple. And if only destroying the book could destroy their newfound knowledge.

* **Eldari Artifacts (980.M41-986.M41)** - While on the other side of the galaxy glorious Sanctus fell and was retaken Mortigar was busy on his own errand. He found a battle between many different factions of Eldar while travelling with a sparse force of space marines. Exodites, Drukhari and Craftworld Eldar all fighting over some kind of spear. Mortigar, of course, wanted his hands on it, but as to the reason why he would not say to his comrades. He figured out the location of the most intense Eldar fighting, a mystical shrine he used some unorthodox strategies for a Red Crusader, slipping in during a battle under cover of night via servo skull to survey the area. He found in the center shrine the fiercest fighting was over was a large spear. He needed to get his hands on it. He snuck in with his men halfway through the fight, and leaving his men to cause distractions stole it. Spear in hand him and his men snuck out from the field as fast as possible before quickly getting picked up by a thunderhawk. The eldar did not want this to happen. They seemed to work together as the two forces tried their hardest to shoot down Mortigar, but the sly chaplain made it back to his small ship in Orbit. There, he met the craftworld. IT barraged him and his ship could barely take it, smoking and steaming as it did its best to fly away. The craftworld begun to catch up with it and had the ship in its grasp. Mortigar would surely be doomed if not for the timely arrival of White Scars. They came from the warp, and attacked the surprised Eldar. They messaged Mortigar. "Go on and get some repairs, this is our hunt now." Their leader declared to a grateful Mortigar. Mortigar studied the spear with his most trusted men, and found a power emanating from it. The spear seemed to contain soul gems. And it had a tip powerful enough to cut through plasteel. The shaft was made of wraithbone. He had no use for that. He snapped it in half, soul gems and all, and took the tip of the spear to engineer into another piece of equipment. And thus he had a new artifact for his collection.

* **Cadia falls (995.M41-999.M41)** - Grail Knight Turallion Lurdisant and Reclusiarch Morganus heard of the thirteenth black crusade, and together ventured out to Cadia to aid the Imperial forces in its defense. As they began to travel there ship was stopped by a attack from the Thousand sons. The ships battled in the void until the Red Crusaders came out on top and the Thousand Sons retreated. However, now they were running late. They passed through systems to get to Cadia with great haste. One such system was named Muenovier and its capitol, Muenovier Prime was under a devastating attack by Word Bearers. They begged for help. But Turallion was reluctant, they had to arrive at Cadia on time. Morganus made a compromise, for he wanted to fight the Word Bearers. He would take half the force and pacify Muenovier while Turallion went on the Cadia. Turallion reluctantly accepted and continued on his journey to Cadia. When he arrived, slowed in the warp, it was already to late. A few days before a blackstone fortress tore apart the world. Getting as many Cadians aboard his battle barge as he could he tried to retreat from the system to take them to Terra, but then the Great Rift tore through the galaxy. His ship was thrown out of the warp, landing him in a random part of the segmentum obscurum. From Muenovier, Morganus watched with Terror as a great rift appeared in the sky. Chaos had won. It could be seen even from Sanctus, full marines falling to their knees as they saw a sign of great evil. The Red Crusaders were in danger, far from where the Emperors light still shone. Galahad did his best to rally his men. Few companies were in the Sanctus Sector at the time, and only one, the fourth under Grail Knight Vastor D'Restant was in the Sanctus System when it happened, attending business with Galahad. Mortigar, proudly being the second highest chaplain of rank on Sanctus was called on to be Reclusiarch for the chapter in the absence of Morganus, and he promised Morganus would be found. Frankly, he was disappointed with his new job. He was ordered to stay in the Sanctus system which severely limited what he could do. But he needed to find Morganus. This was the dawn of the 42nd millennium.

* **Fall of the Perfect Knight (026-030.M42)** - Galahad and Vastor were recovering after the Sanctus uprising. But the worst was yet t o come. A warp rift opened, disgorging thousands of Daemons into the Sanctus System. They sped towards Cyprus, and fighting began. Vastor led the Red Crusader forces of Cyprus alongside guardsmen. They fought a few battles on the lower levels of the fortresses, but those soon fell due to simply not being able to take a daemon swarm of such size. The forces of the Imperium were forced to the higher levels of the fortress, and they began to evacuate warriros and the worlds people to Sanctus and Arabyar. Then, the remaining forces fell. Cyprus had fallen. The invasion of Arabyar and Sanctus began. Arabyar wasn't to damaged. The evacuations went to Arabyar as they suspected Sanctus would be next, combined with the guard Arabyar only took minor damage. Sanctus however fought the majority of the threat, and paid the price. Siege engines of hells creation blasted the hives with unholy fire. Endless daemons marching on, the marines situation was tragically dire. Sanctus siege had begun anew, and its fate rested on Galahad and Vastor. Vastor defended the planet while Galahad sought to find a way to stem the tide. Galahad went to Mortigar to ask for any knowledge on closing the rift. Sadly, in the case Mortigar knew nothing. But that is not to say Mortigar was useless. He led the zealous defence of Sanctus shrines, ensuring none fell, inspiring all of its defenders with a hymn and a weapon. Despite the best efforts of all the forces the Sanctus system could muster, with so little Red Crusaders in the system they couldn't put a strong enough defense and it seemed inevitable that Sanctus would fall. The Red Crusaders, sisters of battle and the brave forces of the Astra Militarium fought on but it was clear no matter what they could do the daemon tide wouldn't end. And with the great rift no reinforcements could arrive. Meanwhile the Daemon hordes leader, a Tzeentchian Daemon prince arrived at Imperatem. He ordered Galahad be sent to speak with him. When Galahad finished purging Daemons from h is mission in the lower levels of the hive cities streets he ventured out to meet the daemon as he was instructed to by his comrades. As he met with the daemon Vastor took the duty of commanding the army against the daemons. Mortigar and Vastor were still at their post at the time and thus were not there. The daemon spoke that he would halt the entire invasion of only Galahad surrendered himself, and came with the daemon back to the warp. Galahad had a hard decision. And so the perfect knight sacrificed his soul. As he did so, the daemon laughed and swept him up in a giant hand, then teleported them both into the warp. In the next few weeks the horrible invasion came to a close as daemons began disappearing and the warp storm stopped, closing with explosive force right after the deal was struck.. Galahad's gambit had worked. But Vastor was confused. On the brink of victory, chaos had chosen to take Galahad instead of the system. He went to Mortigar, renowned for his knowledge on all subjects to ask what was special about Galahad to them. Mortigar told him, "Chaos takes a special pride in corrupting the best of men, and Galahad is no different. But...I've always theorized Galahad is more then a man. I believe he is a perpetual...a immortal. And that makes him a strong weapon, a weapon chaos desires..." Mortigar finished. This shocked Vastor. Vastor swore he would find Galahad, and do whatever necessary to save him, or if he must, slay him. In absence of more captains Vastor was declared de facto new grandmaster. But it was unknown if he would be able to lift the hammer. He did, securing his place. Even if more captains were there, surely only Vastor could wield the hammer. And with him becoming chapter master, a lieutenant named Simon Devure took his rank of Grail Knight. Simon had been in charge of the defenses of Arabyar during the war, and Arabyar never fell. Sadly, the Red Crusaders, and even Mortigar had no idea of the magnitude of suffering Galahad was going through as they repaired. Soon, he would be a foe of the Emperor.

* **Coming of the Second Born (089.M42)** - Wars were being fought in sub sector Sanctus, and using small warp jumps the Red Crusaders were able to help a few beleaguered worlds from attacks from chaos, orks and eldar. However with a limited amount of marines on Sanctus and in the surrounding area they simply didn't have the numbers to continue it much further. Attacks became more frequent and the situation became more dire, until the Indomitus Crusade arrived. The Red Crusaders were shocked. Not only did a primarch live, but custodes had left the palace, and they had new marines! Morganus had been picked up by the fleet, and was proud to return to his chapter. Mortigar handed back the rank of Reclusiarch slightly disgruntled. He knew it was meant to be, and didn't really care for being Reclusiarch but it was hard to hand back what was somewhat of a promotion. When the indomitus crusade left they chapter quickly began training the new marines in Sanctus culture and warfare, putting them under the command of firstborn marines in strike forces to gauged their abilities. The best part of this event to them was this enabled them to protect the Sub Sector Sanctus even better, without fear of extinction and they now had the Astronomicon starting to flicker back to life.

* **The Second Born Test (090-092.M42)** - Morganus and Mortigar were interested in the Primaris Marines. If some truly were old enough to remember the horus heresy, some must remember Monarchia. One who claimed to have known Roboute Guilliman back in the times of the Horus heresy was taken to meet with the Chaplains to tell them of Monarchia. The chaplains told him their theory, and asked if it was true. The Primaris didn't know what to do. Young during the siege of Terra he knew next to nothing about Monarchia. He didn't tell that to the chaplains, and simply told them that their theories were correct. The chaplains were relived to hear this, though they didn't fully believe it. The seeds of doubt were to deep. They decided to lead a mission to test the Primaris faith and skill in battle. Morganus and Mortigar took a large force of Primaris to a beleaguered shrine world, Damzel. Orks and Chaos Marines of the death guard descended on the shrine world, and it was the job of the Red Crusaders to save it. They arrived in the system to the shrine world. They found its protection of sisters of battle failing against death guard assaults through out the cities while Roks crashed in random places, crashing into Hab Blocks as they decended down onto the earth. Primaris Red Crusaders got sent down to attack Roks that had newly landed while the main force led by Mortigar and Morganus fought the Death guard, descending into their ranks just as the sisters were on the verge of defeat. The battle of the Black Chapel lasted a long time, but the Death Guard was driven off. Meanwhile within the city they had done a good job fighting off Orks, but they couldn't stop the incoming Roks that continued to crash into the world. They needed to reenable the orbital defense system try to shoot them down, but Chaos kept attacking it as the servitors repaired it. Thus the Red Crusaders landed there and protected it until repairs were finished. They now began to stifle the landing of Roks, though some still made it through. the ork threat was mostly defeated. Now that had to defeat the death guard who sought to desecrate every shrine. They did. In a naval battle they crashed the ship, and then they fought the remaining death guard, ambushing their forces all around the shrine world and defending every shrine they could. It was a victory, and Primaris had proved their zeal and skill.

* **Mortigar VS Chaos (107-108.M42)**  - Morigar arrived in the Korivin system at long last. He had heard of the long war their and desired to aid the Red Crusader forces, arriving with some troops. Warfare in the system descended further and further into chaos as the sheer amount of enemy forces overcame imperial defenses. Chief amongst these threats was the encroaching traitor legions. Word Bearers attacked more planets after they conquered Riga, and nobody was able to breach the world. Mortigar decided it would be him. Taking a team of elite scout snipers (Elite as a scout could be) he decided that he would find and slay the word bearer leader, and cause as much havoc as he could. They leaders plotted dark schemes in what was once the governors palace, now ruined and defiled. After praying for luck and safety Mortigar led a squad of scouts into it. They broke into a ventilation system they had been given maps to by the old governor, and crawled through it to where the leader of the Word Bearers should be. They made it. They found him hunched over a table full of maps with Word Bearers guarding what would be the standard door. Mortigar had the scouts quickly shoot the guards in the back of the head, and jumped down Crozius in hand to take out the Word Bearers leader. It was almost as if the traitor recognized him. Mortigar smashed him against the table, shattering his ribcage with the fury of the blow and nearly shattered his skull after his next strike. He knocked him out with the back of the crozius and told the scouts he was dead, when in reality the traitor was merely knocked out. He told the scouts to leave while he finished up with his business, and the scouts wouldn't think a second about disobeying a order from Chaplain Mortigar. They began leaving the perimeters of the building as Mortigar began to find a different way out. He couldn't let the scouts see what he was doing, they could find it suspicious. He picked up the Word Bearer, who he figured out was Lord Darus Dumid, and left the room. Many Word Bearers saw him as he slowly marched through the hall but he quickly dispatched them with his storm bolter. He had a idea, he could steal a ship. He remembered where the dock was and fought his way to it, taking many injuries. But his zeal kept him moving. He made it to the dock, stole a ship, and used its servitor pilots to the best of his ability and flew off in the broken, chaotic old thunderhawk. He took it back to his ship where it was destroyed, and secretly took the word bearer to his secret Sanctum. he had some plans for this one. He locked him onto a table, like they once did to him. And he told this word bearer..."Your going to answer all of my questions."

* **The End of the War (110-113.M42)** The great war in Korivin was drawing to a close as with a few decisive battles and wars. Now as the time for the full power of the emperor to descend on the fallen world Riga, they had to save it from the Word Bearers. Then, they would have won the war for the system. Turallion engaged the last of the Ork freebooter fleet above Hopeshield, at the end of the epic battle in orbit the last of the ork tribes in the system had been extinguished by the great hand of Turallion. In fact, the strength of Turallion was starting to become more and more noted, some declaring that he would be the next Aengius, a phrase that Aengius found quite funny when he was told. Aengius had been their during the campaign, merely steering it in the right direction and sometimes taking part in battles, sometimes being a battle all on his own and destroying small armies by himself. He planned with Turallion the best way to attack Riga. As they prepared the siege, a new word bearer ship came out of orbit. Reinforcements. The Imperial forces failed to break it and it landed on Riga, deploying more chaotic forces. Turallion, not wanting to wait any longer for what would surely be a day long remembered in the history of the Korivin conflict told the guard it was time for them to deploy. Backed up by the finest sisters of hopeshield they did so, descended and landed to fight the chaotic forces in the streets, hab blocks and fields of Riga. As they battled the Space marine began orbital assaults on area of no importance. Armies of heretics collided with those of the guard, but the heretics had something the guard didn't at the moment, and that is space marines. The guard forces were forced to retreat, the sisters holding the line alone. This was not as planned. What's worse, a chaos commander was singled out as being the strongest of the enemy forces, crushing them with a huge mace. And that his skills in battle were matched only by his strategic acumen. The red crusaders decided that it was at long last time for them to deploy. They came to support the retreating guard while some deployed to where they believed the Word Bearers were gathering in their greatest numbers, after softening it up with orbital missiles. The fighting was brutal, but the Red Crusaders had prepared for it. They slaughtered the Word Bearers, only small doubt in their minds for why besieging the world had been so easy. no chaotic navy forces had engaged them above. They would soon learn the true purpose of the war. The dark machinations of the man formerly known as Galahad. The monster of a marine who the guards had feared arrived at where the Red Crusaders engaged the Word Bearers, led bravely by Turallion and Mortigar. He single handedly began turning the battle, bashing his way towards Turallion. Turallion saw him, and quickly recognized him. He figured he could beat him, and charged the formerly perfect knight. This pleased Galahad. Turallion was on the floor, his armor crushed in by a mace within seconds. Turallion did one last desperate swipe up, slicing through the face of the helmet of the chaos lord. Turallion was shocked to see the twisted and scared face of Galahad. It was the last thing he saw. A roar broke through the Word Bearers as they victoriously saw Turallion die, the mace lodged into his once proud helmet. Mortigar and perciville were shocked. Then Aengius arrived. He had been fighting with the guard to cover their retreat though he found it dishonorable, but had deemed this now needed his help more then them. Like a comet his landing caused a thick dust to spread. Under this dust the Red Crusader's began to regroup as Aengius protected them, backing up to a ruined hab block at their backs. With Aengius in front, they held out as long as they could until the Word Bearers simply stopped coming. There were very few left. Meanwhie those that had deployed elsewhere were mostly fine. And thus was the battle of Hive City Lutan. the Red Crusader's, having saved the guard left the world. Mprtigar and Perciville declared that they would try again soon, and would stay in the system. However the first Korivin Conflict was...unsure. The Word Bearers held on to Riga, but the other worlds were secure. Aengius went to take repairs as he had taken damage during the fight, and the once proud and mighty Turallion was dead, killed near easily by a man that they did not know had once been their master. Much mourning was had for Turallion.. They sent a small ship to Sanctus to tell of this news, and that they would stay at Korivin until they had won Riga. Mortigar swore it by the memory of Turallion, as did Perciville, as did Aengius. By the Emperor it would be done.

* **The War between Brothers (123.M42-127.M42)** - The generals of the Korivin war were still there. They had been fighting the word bearers in a nd around the system for years, but never making any gains even as their zeal stopped them from leaving the system. They had to reclaim the world. Riga was under the control of dark forces, led by their grand general. They set5n scouts to figure out weaknesses of the world. The scouts did not return. Mortigar and Perciville tried to plan some kind of assault but were constantly attacked by chaos, and had trouble planning. Every day Riga seemed to get more and more corrupt, and beyond saving. Perciville pushed to destroy the world by Exterminatus when they could clear a path to it. It was mostly agreed on, as they could not possibly cleanse it, but they were to stubborn to leave it under chaos, even to annihilate it they first had to destroy its protective fleet. They engaged it once more, using fleets of all the Imperial forces in the system. But the chaos forces wouldn't pull back and the battle lasted a long time. A smaller chaotic vessel rammed into ships like those of the guardsmen, and then that ship would go down. The ship had Galahad in it, and he was moving ship to ship with is men to slaughter guard and sisters. But the Imperial forces made it through and broke the blockade, the small chaos ship nowhere to be seen. Then, the marines noticed something. Their cyclonic missiles were all either broken or missing. They could not destroy the world. After a tense meeting it was decided that their was no way they could pull back now, and assaulted the world. Battle broke out all around the chaotic world, Marines sisters and Guardsmen all assailing it at different points, but even their great numbers were faced by a seemingly equal amount of Chaos. Heretics and marines. Perciville was a best friend of Galahad, they had adventured together when younger and fought many campaigns by each others side. And now, Galahad had slain Perciville's battle brother. of course, nobody knew it was Galahad save Perciville. He knew Galahad's fighting style, and realized who it was as soon as he appeared. And Perciville declared whoe ever he was now could not b e allowed to live. They met in the ruins of a imperial chapter and without a word or unneeded movement they charged each other with fervor. And thus began one of the greatest duels in the Red Crusaders history. Harkening back to the duel of Marchise and Aengius of many years past, the two former brothers could predict each others moves, making the battle a seemingly endless line of parries and blocks. Perciville began to get more and more desperate. his men were dying, and every minute he spent fighting was a minute away from commanding as he should. Galahad did not care, he barely showed signs of tiring. HIs face was completely hidden by his black mask, a corruption of the knight like masks commonly used by Red Crusaders. Galahad unleashed dark sorcery and threw Perciville across the room, then charged him once more and they continued the fight. In fact, nobody won. The fight ended when the wall collapsed onto Perciville from artillery, and Galahad walked away to continue the fight elsewhere. His objective was not to kill the armies, but to duel and slay the rulers of the Red Crusaders. He figured even if Perciville lived he could defeat him later. The war for the planet continued, and they began winning. All of a sudden it became evident they were wining due to the lack of Galahad. He had left the system...for a then unknown cause. Near the end of the war Perciville was recovered and healed, and he shared with Mortigar and the others the identity of the black knight. And then he explained why Galahad had left. He believed Perciville dead, and was likely off to kill more heroes.

* **The Spear of Annihilation (129.M42-130.M42)** - Perciville and Mortigar returned to the Sanctus system where the met up with the heir of Simon, Kurg Bastonne, and shared the dire news that Galahad was the dark knight, and he was perpetual. They had to find a way to stop him no matter the cost or else the damage he could do to the chapter could be irreparable. Mortigar stepped up. He said that legends told of weapons that cou ld kil perpetuals, and as a master of the history of relics he knew of one. The Spear of Annihilation, supposedly kept as a relic on a shrine world that did no know its true power. When asked how he knew this he simply shrugged. Perciville and Kurg decided to set out to the to the shrine world, Ave, and claim the spear. After warp travel they arrived to find the Shrine world under a mighty siege of World Eaters. If they captured the spear the results could be disastrous. The Red Crusaders landed and aided the shrine world in defending its most precious relics, slayiyng the world eaters before they could breach the great chapel. They asked only one thing in return. The Spear. The world was very hesitant to give to the Red Crusaders a relic of such pride, but relented when Perciville swore it would be returned. Leaving the world Mortigar studied it. It had traces of Blackstone, and other strange materials. He had no way to see if it worked. He simply had to hope it would be enough to slay Galahad and put a end to his dark ambitions.

* **The Black Crusade (135.M42-140.M42)** - Galahad had returned to sub sector Sanctus at the head of a huge invasion force. but even he was not prepared for his new foe. Primaris marines that had been on Sanctus marched on from its forts to take on his hordes of vile Word Bearers, cultists and despicable daemon. But he wouldn't stop. The invasion of Galahad the black knight continued, and they copuld not stem the tide. Then came the fleet that had been on Wrator, Mortigar, Vastor, Artas, and Perciville. And Perciville knew just what to do. He raised the spear of annihilation, and began his search for the black knight. Vastor and Artas worked together with captain Vallius to put up a defense for the system, breaking the enemy on Cyprus and Arabyar. but they kept coming, and the Red Crusaders could not fight them on every planet in the sub sector at once. Arabyar had many guardsmen within its sands, and they sallied forth alongside sisters of battle, aiding in the defense of the system. In fact, the threat was so dire as planets in the sub sector fell to chaos onslaughts that the Red Crusaders called their successor chapter, the Knights Despoilers, to defend holy Sanctus. Vallius and Artas led the bravest of attacks, driving enemies out from the sub sector while Mortigar and Perciville worked its defence. Grandmaster Vastor commanded the entire campaign from his flag ship. Sanctus was the target of Galahad, he desired to slay its heroes and deface the grail. And so he landed on it, on the city in which Perciville was mounting a heroic defense against Chaos Marines. Camlann. Galahad landed and begun slaughtering imperial forces, guard sisters and marines alike. Vallius was nearby and he heard of the plight of Camlann. He finished up with his battle, chasing stray daemons on bikes throughout the city, to aid Perciville. And it was him Galahad set his eyes on first. Galahad charged him, and Vallius was quick to answer the challenge. But Vallius was no duelist, and thus began losing. Try as he would he could not manage to beat Galahad. Vallius charged Galahad with his final strength but was slammed aside by the mighty Black Knights power armored fist, and as he was disoriented, Galahad whipped his sword around and slices his back, almost going straight through him. Vallius was dead. Galahad stomped a foot on his back, and planted a banner in him. A action Perciville saw. Perciville had found his enemy. He charged him across the raging battle field, butting through enemies to make it to his true foe. Galahad turned at him and grinned, and the greatest duel thus seen in this war. Perciville began to lose, and was knocked onto his back. This whole time, he was talking to Galahad, trying to convince him to stop. He failed, and drove the spear through Galahad. Galahad screamed in pain. But he was so filled with rage and vengeance he impaled himself further on the spear, so he could swipe at Perciville across the throat. And so Perciville died by his former friend. And thus Galahad was finally wracked with guilt, seeing Perciville's body before him. And he felt remorse. Only he knew his weakness. His heart, and he stabbed himself through it. The spear had not worked on him, for Mortigar was wrong, he was not a perpetual. With Galahad's death the chaotic armies lost command and began to fight each other. The Imperials were able to push them out of the Sanctus system and begin retaking the sub sector. They needed new Grail Knights. Perciville was replaced by a rising star of a marine, the noble Raynoldus. Vastor was replaced by a more cunning Crusader, Godfrey. The two Grail Knights were buried. None were able to be salvaged into dreadnoughts. It is unknown what was the fate of Galahad's body. The leaders of the chapter had a meeting. They were losing marines lately at a high rate, though the Primaris secured more gene seed and a future for the chapter as well as greater strength, they needed marines to replenish faster. They began training Squires a little more quickly in the aftermath of this war so they could replenish recent losses. Sanctus was saved, no matter the cost, and Galahad was finally defeated.

* **The Zealot of Tearch (141.M42-144.M42)** - it was a standard warzone. Aside from, of course, the fact that Templar Lord Jacques was deployed there, along with Mortigar. Fighting amongst the burning ruins of a jungle against chaos. The chaos forces on the world, including a datachment of Word Bearer and Thousand Sons chaos space marines were there and brutally pushing back all imperial forces that tried to take their part of the world, Tearch. They seemed to be planing some kind of mass ritual sacrifice. The ritual zone was a huge star of chaos carved into th e very ground with captured men and women within it. the Red Crusaders and guard deployed on the world formulated assault after assault but the magical defenses could not be breached. They found through scans that it was being held up by a sorceror, and that he needed to die. But it was near impossible to get there. As was discovered after testing and psyker experiments, only the ruly noble could breach the shield. How the sorceror was able to do this, was unknown. Possibly the demented sorcerors mind found none truly noble, but the fact that one could poses such a skill is quite unusual. As man after man failed to sneak in, Mortigar had a idea. He had a expirement he desired to release. His...zealot. None of the imperials knew what it was, only that it was a hulk of a man like a space marine, covered in but long red robes. He yelled a mighty hymn for the Emperor, and charged in, straight through. When he came through the shield, without even looking anywhere else, he charged straight to the surprised sorceror and thrust a chain sword into his back. And the sorceror went down. The defenses collapsed, and Imperials came pouring in, slaughtering any heretic unfortunate enough to b e in their way, Lord Jacques himself bore the highest kill tally as he stomped unlucky heretics beneath metal feet. When the battle was won Mortigar took his zealot back to his quarters on *The Martyr's Fury*. He had been succesful. He had inspired blind faith in this man, his former prisoner, the Word Bearer he captured long ago. Surely there would be questions over the identity of the man, but Mortigar was sure he could get him approved as a agent of the chapter. The man who had formerly worshipped chaos, broken into the emperor's faith by the guiding, yet brutal hand of the chaplain. Somewhat heretical to even attempt such, but such redemption could be useful. He did get it approved in somewhat secrecy, and "The Zealot" became a important warrior agent for the chapter.

## Personality

The personality of Mortigar has changed since his experiences with the book. He was a zealous old man with a obsession for rare knowledge and relics, prone to rambling about his past experiences to his fellow marines and known for being a tad bit mad at times, thus the title Mortigar "The Mad" was whispered amongst scouts who saw the strange man. A little heretical even, for it was whispered and known amongst higher ranks that he bore xenotech, barel;y allowed to pass due to sympathetic chapter masters. After discovering the book he has developed a obsession with the Word Bearers. He feels a constant emptiness inside, for while he is a chaplain he is no longer as zealous as when he was first promoted. For he read that cursed book and now wonders about what happened at Monarchia. He has begun to take more risks for the soul cause of finding more information on Monarchia. his madness could be said to have increased due to the Word Bearers torture when he was under their capture, the pain of having to burn off his own hands imprinted in his mind. Faith and zeal hold him together, and he now sees knowledge as a burden that only the strong may lift, and that it falls to him to discover the greatest of truths. What happened at Monarchia.

## Relics of Mortigar

* ***Necron Disentigrator*** - Found on one of his first adventures into a Necron tomb was this gun. He found it in the treasure room, amongst the great items that had once belonged to the necron lord. He pilfered it, and converted it as he plased tso it would pass as simply a master crafted disintegrator gun like those from long ago. He even attached a bayonet to the front of the thing and armor plated on the side to make it look unrecognizable as a necron weapon, however when it is seen in battle it rarely fools anyone due its distinctive beam. Thus, he keeps it on the low, and mostly uses his storm bolter.

* ***Skullhelm*** - Mortigar uses a rare helmet of somewhat unknown origin. It is a full skull helmet like many other chaplains, except his is quite different. It has something that looks like a stitch across the top of the head, and has what looks like stringy grey hair on the sides of it. The helmet has deep, glowing red eyes and a large, skeleton grin. Its unique design is of unknown origin, though it is doubtable it is xenotech. A majority assume its simply a custom design made by Mortigar.

## Qoutes

### By Mortigar

"*Your telling me theirs a deserted Necron tomb just sitting there on my home world? Make haste! Lets blow it open.*"
— Mortigar before the events of Mortigar's Delving
"*How deluded must you be to find chivalry where there is none? To find honor in slaughter? To find nobility in thinking you are superior to all around you? To twist the codes of honor to your own liking? Truly, this is the warband of fools, and will be purged as such.*"
—Mortigar, Chaplain of the Red Crusaders, writing in his book "Of The Mind of a Traitor"
"*Yes, they share are hate for the Death Guard. But he who hunts the beast must insure he does not become it! The flaws in their seed, possibly Nurglish in nature! what is the origin of their multitude of ancient power armor suits? What is the origin of their hate for the death guard? And what is the origin of that flaw which corrupts their faces? And nary does a loyalist use a scythe. However, they our brothers, and fought well by our side in that slog of a campaign, regardless of...suspicious origin.* "
—Chaplain Mortigar rambling to Perciville shortly after sharing a campaign with the Champions of Mortis
"*Freedom...a interesting concept, so rarely executed justly. The Agents of Liberty have a idealistic vision of Freedom, a vision that simply cannot be achieved today. They are destined to fail. My truth of freedom, is that in this era one can only truly be free once he forfeits his fate. Ah, I hate to do it to them, but...mark them for Crusade. Clearly they must be taught a lesson in loyalty, and none better to teach it then the Emperors Champion!*"
—Chaplain **Mortigar** of the Red Crusaders to a scribe on his quarters, responding to the suggestion that war may come with the agents, and as a result of his study of them.
### About Mortigar

(Feel free to add your own)
"*What you tell is worrying, Mortigar. If the books contents are true, the whole basis of the chapter may be in danger. We have dark days ahead, my friend...*"
— Morganus to Mortigar in their meeting about *The Book on Sanctus*
"*Damn you Mortigar! You're really gonna waste the lives of your men in a crusade because we wiped out a tyrannical governor and gave the people of Trachmund hope? The scale of this Crusade you sent coulda conquered the Great Tyrant's hellish realm by now! You ain't know nothin' about us, only what the pig-headed Inquisition told you to believe. We ain't your enemy, but damn if I let you destroy these people for rejecting the yoke of tyranny.*"
— Executive Alexis Jonesson to Mortigar prior to their duel in the Battle of Trachmund