Abner Cassian

> "*Do you think me a monster? Cruel? Why? I take no pleasure in what I do here. This is necessary, both for myself and the galaxy as a whole. A traitor? Possibly, but I was betrayed first. Not that it really matters to you, I suppose.*"
> ― Abner Cassian speaking to a loyalist at the Immolation of Pax
>
>

   Abner Cassian, the Empty Sun, was the Primarch of the X Legio Astartes, the Light Bringers as well as being the most monsterously powerful untouchable ever found by the Imperium of Man.

The Xth primarch’s birth pod landed
upon the remote world of Alaunus. A planet where its inhabitants were forced to
live underground, or face the extremes of heat and cold on the surface. The
child was raised by a tribal chieftain by the name of Cass. He named the child
Abner, which meant Void Child in Alaunuan. Abner proved to be a disconcerting child, whose very presence had
the ability to disturb and distress any unused to him. However, he quickly grew
and proved to be an asset for the tribe, able to easily traverse the dangers of
the underground tunnel network that was the only source of resources.

As a man, his home was attacked by
those who lived above ground. Alone, he went to foreign tribes to recruit an
army to take revenge upon those who had wounded them so. His small force of
scavengers defeated the cities of the Eversun, destroying their whole way of
life in return for the wounds they had dealt them. He returned home with his
force and proceeded to reunite the rest of the underground. It was then that
the Great Crusade arrived at Alaunus.

Abner was not an individual that
made friends easily. He was a psychic blank, an untouchable. His aura could
prevent any psychic ability within his range, save those of the very strongest
psykers. As a result, many dislike his very presence. To go with this, Abner
cannot feel emotion. He understands the concepts intellectually, but cannot
feel anything. This makes him capable of both great cruelty and great kindness
in equal measure.

A private individual, Abner was
never one to relish being the centre of attention. Outside forces and the
expectations of others always pushed him on to be more than he wanted. His
emotionless state meant that he had very little drive to truly excel, even if
his origin made him do so. When he took command of his legion, this showed
itself in how he transformed it. The Light Bringers became much more extreme in
the way they pursued campaigns. The legion became one led by a council of 13
Speakers, whom would advise and help develop battle strategies. If conflict
could be avoided, then they would do so. If war was necessary, it was absolute.
Beyond this, Abner’s one obsession was language. The way in which words could
convey to the world what someone felt, what they thought. He always studied any
he could, spending days at a time to learn a new one when encountered. This, as
well as his ability to read others emotions, was what made him an excellent
diplomat. Unfortunately, the reputation that forever followed him was one of a
tyrant and murderer. He cared little for this, save for when it would affect
his ability to converse with others.

Come the coronation of the
Warmaster, an encounter with an ancient being left Abner changed. With a new
perspective, for the very first time, he felt driven to do something. He would
free the galaxy from the sins of its past. No more destruction in the name of
broken causes. The galaxy would be made anew. Ultra Deum.

## Personality

The core of Abner’s personality is emptiness. He has always
been emotionless, feeling nothing. This allows him to be capable of acts of
great cruelty as well as acts of great kindness. This is not to say he does not
understand emotions, for ever he has been able to manipulate the feelings of
lesser men.

This dispassionate view allows for his ability as a diplomat, able
to see the views of others without a filter of his own. The greatest weakness
of this is his lack of drive. He doesn’t see himself as a conqueror, a king, a
scientist. Instead, he views himself as a tool. A device to be used by his
master to whatever end is necessary. This is why the Light Bringers seem at
times contradictory. They will give others a chance at peace, as it is the most
expedient way to achieve their goals. And when not, total war is then a
necessity.

Because of his blank state, he has always found it difficult
to form a true rapport with others, including his fellow primarchs. The aura of
an untouchable is often described as uncomfortable. This is an understatement.
Because they not only have no warp presence, but actively repel it, they form a
state of wrongness to any warp sensitive being. Even the most empathetic person
has difficulty dealing with a blank, and Abner is a monstrously strong one.  And being emotionally stunted, he has little
interest in trying to better ingratiate himself with them. He can easily feign
normal emotions, as a way of gaining advantage or to control the responses of
his enemies. He is aloof, even to his sons. When he actively tries to be
personable, those that know him are wary to say the least.