vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Yu'Vath - The Resonance: The Resonance is Yu'Vath machinery, though it is much more Warp-sorcery than mechanism. On the world of Scintilla lie the xenos ruins of Designate-228-18. Though Imperial archeotechs have guessed that the structure is xenos in nature, if the truth of its construction were known, it would portend dire consequences.The vaults of Designate-228-18 were constructed by the Yu'Vath. Complexes like these were used to create Hell Worlds--swirling centres of Warp-tides, sustained by foundation-tunnels of human sacrifice and machine-enhanced psyker agony.The Resonance suffuses the rock of lower levels of Scintilla, dormant and invisible to commonplace Imperial technology. In the depths, the Resonance works a slow, insidious effect upon human minds, for in ancient days the Yu'Vath corrupted their human slaves by forcing actions that fragile minds then justified as their own choices.Residents deep within Scintilla's hive cities often begin to suffer hallucinations, false memories, and waking dreams as their minds rationalise what is happening to them. At each stage, the person hallucinates or constructs false memories to explain his actions: orders from superiors; accompanying comrades; that he is following or fleeing something.As the actions become more bizarre, so too do the hallucinations. Talking to others can break the Resonance's immediate hold by showing the afflicted that he is in the grip of hallucination -- but he still will not know that his actions were forced upon him.
Yu'Vath - Crown of Wonders: These crowns set upon ancient mummies are circlets of black, flexible material, steeped with psy-power and ornamented with curling projections on the outer surface. They are a Radical Inquisitor's prize -- and curse, as they slowly twist a psyker's mind.Wonders of the Yu'Vath bubble up within the mind: wise, angelic beings that guide humanity to rightful adulation of the Ruinous Powers and joyous depravity. The lies begin as a whisper, then grow to a blasphemous torment. Soon, the psyker cannot distinguish the visions from his own beliefs.
Yu'Vath - Shard Spiders: Another construct of the Yu'Vath, these deadly little creatures are fashioned from bruised purple crystal and are about the size of a large dog.With twelve legs and a tiny central body they scuttle about with alarming speed. They also have a set of needle-like mandibles which they can alternatively use to mend broken crystal or plunge into an unwary human's soft flesh.
Yu'Vath - Yu'vath Bone Warden: An ancient Dark Energy Construct, the Bone Warden is a fell union of Warp-based technology and dark sorcery. They were crafted by the Yu'Vath primarily to act as watchmen and guardians for their void crypts and solar fortresses; and even now, long after their masters have been forgotten, they remain to fulfil their duty.The Bone Warden has no physical form and instead resides in a collective of dead matter -- most often corpses or other once-living remains. These corpses are held together by ribbons and arcs of crackling black energy, the air around them charged with constant flashes of midnight electricity and the smell of burning flesh. Acting as a single mass, the corpses form a cloud of grasping, clawing hands and mouths that whirls through the air.The only way to defeat a Bone Warden is to destroy its physical state and thus disperse its dark energy field. However, even as its adversaries blast away its fleshy shell, it uses its Warp-shard Crown -- a collection of dark crystalline fragments that orbit its energised core -- to claim more physical matter, regenerating its rotting form.For this reason, Bone Wardens are often found in rooms well stocked with the dead -- a ready made supply of material left by their Yu'Vath masters.
Yu'Vath - Yu'Vath Vessels: The incomprehensible construction of the voidships of the Yu'Vath do not seem to require the same components that more mundane vessels do. These vessels have no actual crew population.
Yu'Vath - The Whisperer: An ancient device of the Yu'Vath, the Whisperer was created from dark Warp magics and cold alien technology. Easily a match for most Imperial ships of the line, it also has the power to subvert minds and bend the weak-willed to its cause.In appearance, it is a massive ball of dark, reflective energy several kilometres across. Around it orbits a collection of monolithic rounded crystals, power constantly arcing between them.Hull: UnknownClass: UnknownDimensions: Approx. 3 kilometres in diameter, crystals orbit out to 6 kilometresCrew: UnknownMass: UnknownAcceleration: Unknown
Yu'Vath - Warp Technology: The following are some of the few identifiable components for Yu'Vath starships. Yu'Vath voidship components are not powered in ways humans could understand, and do not have space or power requirements. They also cannot be incorporated into human vessels.Yu'Vath Gravity Sails - Gravity sails can touch the quantum forces that bind stellar systems together, allowing their ship to move with agility and grace -- and no visible means of propulsion.Void-Skein Rupture Cannon - A strange and terrible abomination of a Macrobattery, little is known about these xenos weapons. They seem to fire munitions through the Warp, with the warheads only emerging into realspace just before they strike their target.Immaterium Energy-Arc - Far worse than the Rupture Cannons, these energy-arcs seem to be generated from the cores of Yu'Vath vessels, and no armour can withstand their punishing strike.
Yuctan Incident - Yuctan Incident: The Yuctan Incident in 666.M40 represented both the first known naval engagement between Imperial forces and the Necrons, as well as the first recorded instance of a Necron "harvest" of the entire population of a Human planet. The Yuctan System was a sparsely inhabited Imperial star system close to the Eastern Fringe, and the site of this first naval encounter.A minor Imperial fleet of 6 escort ships and 1 light cruiser was destroyed, with the only survivor being a single Cobra-class Destroyer.By the time a full Imperial fleet could be dispatched to the region to deal with what is now called the "Yuctan Incident," the Necrons had disappeared, and the system was found devoid of all Human life. Although similar and unexplained events had taken place up to this time, the incident at Yuctan was the first fully documented account of a Necron "harvest" of a populated world, as they sought fresh subjects for their research into "apotheosis," the restoration of their consciousness to organic bodies.
Yênna's Kindred - Yênna's Kindred: Yênna's Kindred is a Kindred of the Leagues of Votann. It is known to possess Balewind harvester stations. This is an example of the extremophile inclinations of many Leagues of Votann Kindreds.
Yôht's Black Pillars Kindred - Yôht's Black Pillars Kindred: Yôht's Black Pillars Kindred is a Kindred of the Leagues of Votann. It is an example of a Kindred whose name is a combination of several common naming conventions, in this case a Kindred that has been named for a defining feature of their Hold World and after its founding Ancestor.
Yôht Grendok - Yôht Grendok: Yôht Grendok is a young up-and-comer of a Kin kâhl, the proud war-leaders of the Leagues of Votann, in the Greater Thurian League. His wargear is decorated with fine gems, and topped by an ornate Rampart Crest decorated with leonine imagery.
Yôht Grendok - Wargear: Void armour with Rampart CrestUnique, belt-fed Autoch Pattern Combi-bolterForgewrought Plasma Sword
Zachariah Kersh - Zachariah Kersh: Zachariah Kersh is the current Chapter Master of the Excoriators Space Marine Chapter. He formerly served as the Chapter Scourge and corpus-captain of the Chapter's 5th Company.
Zachariah Kersh - Disgraced: As  Chapter Scourge, Zachariah Kersh, known as "the Scourge" amongst his battle-brothers, had spent a lifetime at his Chapter Master Quesiah Ichabod's side, fighting experienced warriors of all creeds and species, defeating the best the enemy had to send against him. It had been his singular honour to slay them before they could slay his master. Until the day Kersh failed to stop the Alpha Legion's nearly-successful assassination attempt and crippling of Ichabod, and their theft of the Stigmartyr, the ancient and revered Chapter standard of the Excoriators dating back to the days of the Second Founding. This was a devastating blow to the Excoriators' morale, and the cause of many problems for the Chapter.These tragic events marked Kersh as a disgraced failure in the eyes of his battle-brothers. To make matters worse, Kersh continually found himself afflicted by Dorn's Darkness -- a condition in which he constantly relived Rogal Dorn's darkest hour when he discovered the mortally wounded Emperor on the bridge of the Warmaster Horus' battle barge, the Vengeful Spirit. While it is not clear whether this condition caused Kersh's failures or was triggered by them, the implication is that this is not an unique occurrence, although far from the inevitable Black Rage or Red Thirst which consumes the Astartes of the Blood Angels.
Zachariah Kersh - Feast of Blades: As punishment for his failure to protect the Chapter Master, Kersh was placed in a stasis coffin, only to find himself begrudgingly awoken by his peers when his skill as a warrior served as the Excoriators' last chance to win the 816th Feast of Blades, a desperate bid to restore some of the Chapter's rapidly declining morale. The Chapter had decided to risk waking Kersh only after seven of their competitors had been defeated early in the tournament, and the remaining two were hopelessly outclassed by their match-ups.Kersh's premature awakening required a risky alteration of his Catalepsean Node by the Excoriators' Apothecary Ezrachi in order to bring Kersh out of Dorn's Darkness, and into something resembling a functional state. Shortly after his awakening, Kersh began to see things -- a revenant in midnight black power armour that shadowed him at every step -- and questioned the effectiveness of the procedure. Still, despite all his concerns and protests, the reluctant Kersh was pressed into fighting in the Feast of Blades by the very battle-brothers who still despised him for his dishonour.His superlative performance in the tournament allowed the Excoriators to win the Feast of Blades for the first time in the Chapter's history, despite a debatable move that pitted Kersh in a three-way duel with the chosen champions of the Black Templars and Imperial Fists Chapters. The victorious Kersh was scheduled to return to Eschara with the prized Dornsblade, a revered relic of Primarch Rogal Dorn that brought great honour to the Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion allowed to hold it until the next Feast of Blades was called.However, new orders from Chapter Master Ichabod changed things for Zachariah, as he was named the corpus-captain of the Excoriators' recently devastated 5th Company. The 5th Company was only at half-strength and lacked a captain after a mission undertaken to the world of Veiglehaven to retrieve the Stigmartyr had turned out to be a carefully planned Alpha Legion ambush. Kersh was given command of the battered remnants of a company that hated him, with only Apothecary Ezrachi, who had brought him back from the brink of madness, as an ally. To make matters worse, Kersh was constantly questioning his own sanity -- due to the continued visions of a revenant Astartes -- as well as his suitability for command.
Zachariah Kersh - Cholercaust Blood Crusade: Kersh's first mission as Corpus-Captain was not the revenge against the Alpha Legion that every battle-brother of the Excoriators longed for, but a distress call from the obscure Cemetery World of Certus-Minor, in the Praga Sub-sector, where a beacon to the followers of the Blood God Khorne -- a pyramid of skulls -- had just emerged from a lake. The world held no strategic importance for the Imperium whatsoever. However, ancient oaths between Certus-Minor's Ecclesiarchical administration and the Imperium, as well as the fact that a tomb of a very important Ecclesiarch and High Lord of Terra, Umberto II, was located there, contributed to Chapter Master Ichabod's decision to deploy the 5th Company to defend such an ignominious target.To make matters worse, Kersh learned that a sizeable Khornate crusade, known as the Cholercaust Blood Crusade, was making its way to Certus-Minor trailing a blood-red comet known as the Keeler Comet which had emerged from the Eye of Terror after ten millennia. Much to the 5th Company's dismay, Kersh ordered them to make a defiant last stand against the invaders, and stranded his forces on the world by sending their Apothecary and their crippled strike cruiser the Angelica Mortis to a nearby Forge World out of the comet's and the Blood Crusade's path, taking their precious gene-seed with them to be used to create future generations of Excoriators after they had been slain.Kersh commanded less than half of a full company of Astartes as well as an Astra Militarum regiment of Certusian Charnel Guard against a legion of Chaos Traitors and Khornate Berserkers. Despite the odds, Kersh formulated a plan worthy of the Chapter's ancestors who had defended the Imperial Palace during the Siege of Terra, and he led a bold last stand by the Imperial defenders at Certus-Minor's capital necropolis of Obsequa City.The weight of the Khornate assault far exceeded even Kersh's estimates, and things began to look grim for the Imperial forces until the mysterious Legion of the Damned made an unexpected appearance, stopping the Cholercaust's Blood Crusade dead in its tracks. Kersh was the sole survivor of the slaughter on Certus-Minor. He later succeeded Ichabod as the new Chapter Master of the Excoriators after Ichabod succumbed to the Alpha Legion's toxin.
Zadkiel - Zadkiel: Zadkiel is a powerful and honoured Epistolary of the Dark Angels Chapter, seconded to the Deathwatch. He is a prominent leader of the Imperial forces in the Acheros Salient of the Achilus Crusade to retake the Jericho Reach.His potent psychic abilities have banished Daemons without number, shrieking back into the Warp, and his Force Staff has reaped a bloody tally against the Heretic hordes of the Cellebos Warzone. Indeed, Zadkiel's knowledge of psychic powers and the Warp are of great value to kill-teams operating in the Acheros Salient.The Librarian possesses an ancient tome that purports to contain lore and secrets within its passages relating to the Hadex Anomaly and how to successfully navigate through its bizarre radiance. However, Zadkiel nurses a deep-seated grudge against the Space Wolves Chapter, and he has little patience for any of the gene-sons of Leman Russ, particularly Watch Fortress Erioch's Master of the Forge, Harl Greyweaver.
Zagstruk - Zagstruk: Zagstruk is the fanatical and merciless Ork Warboss of a much-feared band of Stormboyz known as the "Vulcha Squad".His squad gets its name from Zagstruk's personal aircraft, a massive red Fighta-Bommer called Da Vulcha that is an antique by the standards of modern Ork aircraft.Nevertheless, it still packs a fearsome payload, not least of which are the Vulchas themselves. Boss Zagstruk and his Boyz fly in low attack runs over the front line, riding in the belly of their Vulcha, and at a barked command from Zagstruk, the Vulcha Boyz plummet towards the battle below into the heart of the enemy, iron-plated boots first.To make sure his feet hit the hardest, Zagstruk is equipped with Da Vulcha's Klaws, a pair of bionik legs that allow him to perform his favourite manoeuvre -- the fly-by decapitation.
Zagstruk - History: Boss Zagstruk is one of the most shockingly violent Orks in the galaxy. It is rumoured that he was born in the centre of a Human settlement and that he quickly throttled his way across the hinterlands to his parent Ork tribe.He is perpetually angry, and his bulge-eyed glare is enough to subdue even the most raucous Madboy. His approach is heralded by the metallic quickstep clank of his bionik legs, sending every Grot within earshot skulking.Some claim that Zagstruk once stared down a rampaging bull Squiggoth, though others reckon it more likely that he simply clobbered the bellowing beast until it keeled over senseless.Zagstruk is a ferocious disciplinarian with absolutely no tolerance for stupidity, incompetence or failure. He is more than happy to put a few rounds through the skull of any Greenskin who displays such traits around him, a fact that tends to keep even the biggest and most truculent Orks in line.Known simply as "Da Boss" by the awed Stormboyz who flock to his banner, Zagstruk's thermonuclear temper is legend. He never lowers his voice below a bellow, and can fly into a murderous rage with no provocation whatsoever.The rumour is that Zagstruk has never gone a single solar day without killing something. Da Boss inspires fanatical awe in the Stormboyz who queue up to fight alongside him, and for every underling that he shoots dead there are always two new recruits ready to join the ranks.Zagstruk is well-known for his characteristic wargear, Da Vulcha's Klawz. After confronting a Space Marine Dreadnought unsuccessfully, both of Zagstruk's legs were ripped off. However the vicious Warboss climbed onto the hull of the offending Dreadnought with only his arms and tore its core systems apart with only his sharpened teeth.After the battle, he had a pair of piston-driven bionik replacements made, which were actually two modified Power Klaws crafted from the close combat weapons of the Dreadnought he had destroyed. These modified Power Klaws were attached to Zagstruk's leg stumps. He uses these weapons to jump atop enemies with the help of his Rokkit Pack and then rip his latest victim apart.
Zagstruk - Notable Campaigns: Who's Da Boss? (982.M41) - During fierce fighting on the Exodite world of Lyrithar, Boss Zagstruk took personal offence at being outmanoeuvred by the lightning-fast Wild Riders of Saim-Hann. Enraged beyond words as his cowardly foes retreated into the Webway, Zagstruk lit up his Rokkit Pack and gave chase along with a hard core of his most devoted Stormboyz. The portal closed behind Zagstruk, and Da Boss was next seen some ten solar months later when he stalked into the encampment of Warboss Golgrot. He slaughtered a couple of dozen Lootas, and reclaimed his stolen Fighta-Bommer. No one had the guts to inquire as to Zagstruk's recent whereabouts, but all noted the fresh batch of red and white Eldar helmets dangling from his belt.
Zagstruk - Wargear: Stormboy Rokkit PackStikkbombz Cybork Body ChoppaSluggaDa Vulcha's Klawz - These custom bionik legs were made for Zagstruk after he suffered a terrible wound while in battle. He confronted a Space Marine Dreadnought who tore off both of his legs within seconds of their meeting. Zagstruk himself, possessed of a bad temper even by Greenskin standards, got his revenge when he bit through the Dreadnought's own core systems with his bare, highly-sharpened teeth. Zagstruk's custom bionik legs are the perfect tool for smashing a foe into the ground and softening the impact of his landing in one fell swoop.
Zagstruk - Sources: Codex: Orks (7th Edition), pp. 84, 134-135Codex: Orks (4th Edition), pg. 63White Dwarf 349 (UK), Preview, pp. 3, 18Games Workshop Online Catalogue - Ork Boss Zagstruk
Zagthean - Zagthean: Zagthean, also known as Zagthean the Broken, is a prominent Chaos Lord of the Black Legion of Chaos Space Marines who has dedicated himself to the service of Slaanesh.
Zagthean - History: On the Agri-world of Valesia, the Broken led his Black Legion warband in a conflict marked by fury and savage excess. For his own amusement, Zagthean constructed a great maze of thorns drawn from the world's famous rose orchards.He then proceeded to blind his prisoners and set them loose within the maze's tunnels before proceeding to hunt them down himself. Countless innocent citizens of Valesia spent their final terrifying hours listening for the sounds of his pursuit, their flesh bleeding and torn from the dozens of cuts made by the thorns.Soon after the 4th Black Crusade, Zagthean pillaged the world of Helosian in the Agripinaa Sector. He took the sisters of the Convent of Alabaster Maidens prisoner and exposed them to the energies of the Warp, which triggered their latent psychic potentials. Zagthean used Warp-derived technology to fuse the sisters into a single entity and then that abomination was transformed into a living portal into the Warp to unleash a daemonic invasion upon Helosian.Zagthean was assigned as one of Abaddon the Despoiler's commanders during the 13th Black Crusade and has also become a model for the Slaanesh devotees among the special formation of the Black Legion known as the Children of Torment.
Zahariel - Zahariel: Zahariel, born Zahariel El'Zurias, was a formidable Librarian of the Dark Angels Space Marine Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. He was later corrupted by Chaos and became one of the first of the Fallen Angels.
Zahariel - History: Zahariel El'Zurias was a native of the Death World of Caliban during the period of history before the arrival of the Emperor and the Imperial Compliance of his homeworld during the Great Crusade. Zahariel left his home at the age of seven Terran years to journey to the great fortress-monastery of Aldurukh, home of "The Order," one of the most prominent knightly orders of warrior-aristocrats created to defend Caliban's people from the predations of the Great Beasts that roamed the world's forests.These knights maintained a few aspects of Caliban's ancient technology from before the Age of Strife and wielded primitive Bolt Pistols and wore suits of simple Power Armour very similar to that later used by the Astartes that were handed down from knight to knight. Despite these technological trappings, however, Caliban remained very much a pre-industrial society whose warriors rode to war on horseback. One of the most prominent knightly organisations was known as The Order, and was made up of commoners and nobles alike, whereas the other knightly orders were drawn by tradition only from the Calibanite nobility.During that time, The Order was led by two formidable warriors who were proclaimed to be the greatest of the age -- Sars Luther and Lion El'Jonson. Accompanied by his cousin, Nemiel, Zahariel succeeded in becoming a supplicant to The Order, and began his intense training, in earnest, that would occupy his every waking moment for the next two years of his young life. When he was finally judged to be suitable by his Master, Remiel, he was formally initiated by a panel that consisted of Lion El'Jonson, Sars Luther and the Lord Cypher, and became a full member of The Order.
Zahariel - Knights of Lupus: Soon after Zahariel's ascension to knighthood, The Order declared war on the Knights of Lupus, a rival knightly order that had protested against Lion El'Jonson's genocidal campaign against the Great Beasts of Caliban. Led by Lord Sartana, the Knights of Lupus rebelled against the rapid change of their world, as Jonson continued to prosecute his campaign against the Great Beasts that had long plagued Caliban. Unknown to any outside their order, the Knights of Lupus were capturing and training the beasts.Afraid of what the future held for them in a world without these fell creatures, the Knights of Lupus wanted to maintain the status quo of their rapidly changing civilisation. The Order marshaled the bulk of their forces and made for the enemy castle stronghold of the Knights of Lupus. While The Order lay siege to the castle, the Lion launched a diversionary assault on the northern gate, while the bulk of the main attack was led by Sar Luther against another portal. The fighting proved brutal and relentless, with both sides taking horrendous casualties. But this was as nothing compared to the horror that the knights of The Order discovered once they breached the walls of the castle.The Order's warriors found themselves in a life-and-death struggle as a menagerie of caged beasts roared as they were released from their imprisonment and charged. Sar Zahariel bravely fought as a member of The Order's swordline, and came out of the campaign both blooded as a warrior and recognised as a rising star within The Order. The Knights of Lupus retreated within their keep, content to leave the beasts to do their work for them. The knights of The Order had nothing but contempt for the knights who had fallen so far from the ideals of honour and virtue that they would stoop to such a base tactic.After defeating the final creature the knights of The Order assaulted the keep where the Knights of Lupus were cowering. They had forfeited their right to mercy and were to be granted no clemency. When Lord Sartana was confronted, he took the coward's way out and plunged a hunting knife into his own heart. With the death of Lord Sartana, the Knights of Lupus ceased to exist. The last remnants of their order were hunted down in the corridors of their shattered keep and slain.
Zahariel - Descent of Angels: Six solar months after his ascension as a knight of The Order, Zahariel's destiny would change again. Shortly after the success of the campaign against the Great Beasts, the Emperor of Mankind and His Astartes scouts arrived on Caliban after He detected the psychic emanations of one of the primarchs. From the moment the Emperor landed, El'Jonson felt the deep connection between himself and the Master of Mankind, and swore his fealty. In return, the Emperor made the Lion the commander of the Ist Legion of Space Marines that had been created from his genome.The Imperials brought with them all of the advanced technology that was hailed by the people of Caliban as miraculous. Soon, the Astartes of the Ist Legion were putting potential Astartes Aspirants from The Order and the other knightly organisations through myriad martial trials and competitions to gauge their level of martial prowess and character. Only the strongest and most dedicated were allowed to pass to the next stage. Zahariel and Nemiel both took part in these arduous trials, and during one of these formidable tests of endurance, Zahariel's innate psychic powers manifested once again, an unknown third ability -- which granted him the ability to boost his own reserves of stamina and energy.His unusual abilities brought Zahariel the attention of Brother-Librarian Israfael, who, after interrogating the young Knight, quickly deduced that Zahariel possessed an extremely rare psychic ability known as "Terrorsight." Zahariel had possessed no instruction in the use of these abilities and had manifested them instinctively, though in an unfocused manner. Zahariel next drew the attention of someone even greater than that of the Brother-Librarian -- that of the Emperor Himself -- when he was able to foil an assassination attempt intended to be carried out by rogue elements within The Order's Inner Circle who feared the changes to be wrought on Caliban by its incorporation into the Imperium of Man. In the aftermath of these events, Zahariel was personally examined by the Emperor, but his memory of this was psychically occluded by the Emperor's own powerful psychic abilities. The attempted treason that had occurred within the ranks of The Order was suppressed.Finally, the day arrived when those individuals whose courage had been proven beyond doubt, whose stamina, endurance and strength had seen them through the Astartes trials were ready to be added to the ranks of the Ist Legion. Word had come from Sar Luther that the Astartes had made their final selection for advanced training and the gen-hancement required to join their ranks. Zahariel had successfully proven his worth and was chosen. Through the application of Imperial science and the marvels of the gene-seed, these Aspirants were transformed over the next several Terran years into Battle-Brothers of the Ist Legion, newly renamed the "Dark Angels" by the Lion after an ancient Calibanite fable.
Zahariel - The Lion's Judgement: No sooner had the Dark Angels returned to the Invincible Reason than they were issued with new deployment orders. A declaration from the Lion announced that the flow of new recruits from Caliban was not proceeding as swiftly as was hoped. Therefore, experienced Astartes were to return to the homeworld with all speed to ensure that the recruitment of new warriors was put back on track.The Great Crusade was entering a new and vigorous stage, and the Dark Angels needed fresh warriors to spread the light of the Imperium outwards into new regions of the galaxy. As to the pacification of Sarosh, word had quickly spread of the knowledge that the Saroshi's god had met its demise at the hands of the Emperor's angels of death. Imperial Army units from nearby Expeditionary Fleets, as well as a demi-Legion of Titans from the Legio Ignatum, were sent to crush any last resistance.The deployment order was given, as hundreds of loyal warriors were earmarked to return home, including Zahariel. The sense of crushing dejection was total, and though there was no outward stigma attached to their departure from the fleet, every warrior knew the truth of the matter in their hearts. Their primarch had rejected them. The Lion did not want them with him for the remainder of the Great Crusade. Those that were to be sent back to Caliban had only made a minor contribution to the cause, so insignificant in the scale of what was to come that many of their number doubted that the chroniclers would even bother to record the short war on Sarosh. The Great Crusade would continue, though it would continue without Luther.
Zahariel - Betrayal: While all this had been transpiring on Caliban, the rest of the Dark Angels Legion had been spreading the Imperial Truth across the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy when word reached them of Horus' treachery against the Imperium. It is known that the Warmaster ordered the Night Lords Traitor Legion to intercept the Dark Angels and prevent them from aiding the Emperor on Terra as part of the campaign remembered as the Thramas Crusade, but ultimately without success.As the Dark Angels were in transit to Terra alongside the Space Wolves Legion, so too was the Ultramarines Legion, who had also thwarted Horus' best efforts to keep them from Terra after the Battle of Calth. The three Legions would ultimately arrive too late; Horus had already been defeated and the Emperor grievously wounded, His shattered body placed within the life-support mechanisms of the arcane Golden Throne.Grief-stricken, El'Jonson returned to Caliban. Upon the Dark Angels fleet's arrival in orbit above their homeworld, they were fired upon from the surface. Pulling back the fleet, El'Jonson tried to find out what had happened, and discovered that Luther -- who had become embittered by what he perceived as El'Jonson always taking all of his glory -- had poisoned the minds of the Dark Angels garrison and the new recruits that had been left on the planet against their primarch. Correctly believing that Luther and the planet-side Dark Angels had actually been tainted by Chaos, an infuriated Jonson ordered that Caliban be bombarded from orbit, destroying the planet's defences.In the ensuing apocalyptic battle between the Lion and the Arch-heretic Luther, the Fallen Angels, including Zahariel, were scattered throughout space and time as the Chaos Gods unleashed a Warp storm upon the world, and Caliban tore itself apart under the strain of the Ruinous Powers' assault and the weakening of its crust by the Dark Angels' orbital bombardment. The only portion of the planet remaining intact was the rock on which stood the fortress-monastery in which Luther and the Lion had duelled. The Dark Angels entered the shattered monastery and captured the broken Luther; of El'Jonson himself, however, there was no sign.
Zahndrekh - Zahndrekh: Zahndrekh is a Necron Overlord and Nemesor of the Sautekh Dynasty who was once counted amongst the greatest generals of the lost Necrontyr empire. It was through his campaigns of conquest that his Tomb World of Gidrim rose from a small and insignificant planet on the fringes of the galaxy to become the iron-handed ruler of a dozen star systems.Even now, though Gidrim has been subsumed as a crownworld of the larger Sautekh Dynasty, Zahndrekh is numbered amongst the mightiest of its heroes. It is a reputation well-deserved, for Gidrim is one of the more expansionist of the recently awoken crownworlds of Sautekh, and Zahndrekh's undying armies are an ever-present peril of the Milky Way galaxy's Eastern Fringe.
Zahndrekh - Wargear: Necrodermis - Like all Necrons, Zahndrekh's body is built from the self-repairing living metal known as necrodermis. As befits one of his lofty rank, Zahndrekh's body is of superior craftsmanship and richly adorned, clearly announcing his status and allowing him to repair even the most grievous of wounds in a matter of moments. Zahndrekh, of course, deep in the grip of his delusions, denies that his body is composed of necrodermis, believing he is still made of flesh and blood.Staff of Light - A Staff of Light is both a weapon and a symbol of Necron authority. Its haft is actually a disguised Power Generator Rod and the crest is a finely tuned focussing device which allows the wielder to unleash searing green bolts of Gauss energy at his foes.Resurrection Orb - A Resurrection Orb is a glowing sphere that focuses energy into the repair circuits of Necrons around the bearer. This allows them to regenerate at a rate faster than normal upon the battlefield.Phase Shifter - Using a form of unknown inter-dimensional science, a Phase Shifter is a Necron defensive device that renders its bearer's form hazy and indistinct, as though they were not completely corporeal. Shots and blows can then pass through his mechanical body, meaning that even the most powerful weapons cannot harm him. This is because a Phase Shifter flickers the very fabric of its bearer into and out of a phased state as they move in between dimensions. If improperly timed, even the most powerful blows and shots aimed at the bearer of a Phase Shifter instead pass through empty air.Sempiternal Weave – A Sempiternal Weave is an advanced form of Necron technology used to augment the Necrodermis bodies of members of the Necron royalty. A Sempiternal Weave threads a Necron’s exoskeleton with filaments of phase-hardened amaranthite and adamantium, vastly increasing the body’s hardiness to a level that rivals Astartes Terminator Armour.
Zanatov's Harbour - Zanatov's Harbour: Zanatov's HarbourFrontier WorldDead WorldTyranidIt is found at the farthest tip of the Orpheus Salient in the Jericho Reach, being, after Herisor, the second Imperial world on record attacked by Hive Fleet Dagon.
Zanatov's Harbour - History: The Frontier World of Zanatov's Harbour was named for the legendary Rogue Trader Corsair-Captain Zanatov. This planet was one he frequented on his trade runs coming in from the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy.At one point, the world boasted excellent voidship repair facilities, and the lack of contact with the Imperium made an excellent place for smugglers and other members of the so-called "Cold Trade" to meet up and swap goods. This all changed at the end of 812.M41.Early reports recovered after the fact state that many people saw what they believed to be a meteor shower in the night sky. No one thought much of it, as a meteor shower is often a good omen for ship's captains. Slowly the reports began to filter in that the object had been something very different.These were no mere meteorites that had hit the ground, but instead housed a more sinister cargo of Tyranid bioforms. The merchants and crew on the surface put up a decent fight, but were utterly outmatched by the lethal killing machines.Some managed to make their way to their ships, but found that larger organisms were floating through the void, firing caustic projectiles of a biological nature. None survived the onslaught of the ravenous beasts. All that were on-planet were devoured, their genetic patterns added to the primordial soup that comprises Hive Fleet Dagon's gene pool.Ships in orbit were left abandoned. Most had had their hulls ruptured in hundreds of places by Tyranid bio-spores attaching to the hull which ate their way inside. Any ships not completely wrecked were now floating abattoirs, a sickening testament to the utter brutality of a Tyranid swarm on the warpath.So it was that, by order of Inquisitor Adrielle Quist, Brother-Captain Kristoff and the Templars of Blood's 3rd Company made their way to this graveyard of a planet. They expected to have to use their Strike Cruiser Blood Sword's bombardment cannons to clear the way of Tyranid vessels, and then deploy Thunderhawk gunships, as they would not be able to get close enough to use Drop Pods.What they actually encountered was something far worse. When the Blood Sword translated back into realspace, it found nothing but a dead planet. Every bit of biological material had been stripped bare from the planet's surface.Setting down in their Thunderhawks, the Astartes began a thorough search of the planet for any clue as to how the massive hive fleet had arrived in the Jericho Reach.Realizing that he could not take a full battle company off of the front lines, Captain Kristoff left behind a small contingent of his available Space Marines to continue the investigation.Currently, there has been no communication from the Space Marines left behind that day, but the commanders of the Orpheus Salient still hold out hope that some day there will be news that can help them turn the tide of this war.
Zar-Quaesitor - Zar-Quaesitor: The Zar-Quaesitor was a great Adeptus Mechanicus freighter-hulk, mass-conveyor and Ark Mechanicus that served as the flagship and mobile laboratory of Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl in his time with the Indomitus Crusade Fleet Primus.The Zar-Quaesitor is capable of holding armies of the Mechanicus within itself, as it provided several Skitarii and Legio Cybernetica armies as well as three lances of House Taranis Knights during the course of the Indomitus Crusade.
Zar-Quaesitor - History: At the start of the Indomitus Crusade, Belisarius Cawl's own Adeptus Mechanicus ﬂeet joined Primarch Roboute Guilliman's Fleet Primus, headed by theZar-Quaesitor, that carried within its massive hull a vast number of Primaris Marines still in stasis hibernation.As the Indomitus Crusade penetrated deeper into the galaxy, Archmagos Cawl kept his automaton workers on overdrive, risking meltdowns with their accelerated speeds. Locked deep in the labyrinthine holds of Zar-Quaesitor, thousands of Primaris Space Marines -- some comprising entirely new Chapters and others designated as reinforcements for existing Firstborn ones -- were awakened out of stasis and made ready to join the fray.Despite cleaving a wide path through the darkness that beset the Imperium in the Era Indomitus after the birth of the Great Rift, the Indomitus Crusade eventually began to break down. When the vast holds of the Zar-Quaesitor were at last emptied of their precious contents, Archmagos Cawl departed from Fleet Primus, for he had many more secret vaults to activate in order to complete the Ultima Founding.
Zarabek - Zarabek: Zarabek was a watch fortress of the Deathwatch Chapter that was also the location of the last stand of the Muhlari, a xenos species exterminated by the Ordo Xenos and the Deathwatch in a series of actions culminating in the Purgation of Zarabek. The Deathwatch burnt Zarabek clean, slaying the Muhlari's den mothers and destroying their sacellum of knowledge. Crushing all their data crystals, mixing them with the powdered ash of their people and firing them into the heart of a star, the Muhlari were consigned forever to the Book of Extinctions.Zarabek is now the domain of Watch Captain Ska Mordentodt, a Deathwatch Black Shield of an unknown parent Chapter, who launches the kill-teams of his Watch Company against Hrud migrations, Necron Tomb Worlds, Xenarch raids, Malgreth sightings and Genestealer infestations. Zarabek proved to be both strong and well-hidden, a perfect location for a new watch fortress, so it was cleansed of its xenos taint and taken over by the Deathwatch.
Zarabek - Notable Personnel: Watch Captain Ska Mordentodt (Deathwatch Black Shield) - Mordentodt was a watch captain who served as the commander of one of the Watch Companies of Zarabek. He was known to be a distant and forbidding figure, even to the battle-brothers under his command.
Zarakynel - Zarakynel: Zarakynel, also known as the "Bringer of Torments," the "Souleater," the "Unholy One" and the "Angel of Despair," is a Keeper of Secrets -- a Greater Daemon of Slaanesh -- and a legendary enemy of the Aeldari.
Zarakynel - History: Of all Slaanesh's unholy servants, the name of Zarakynel is revered above any other Keeper of Secrets. Summoned from the darkest recesses of the Human psyche, Zarakynel was bestowed Daemonhood as Slaanesh's perfect creation.Known also as the "Souleater" amongst the Asuryani Farseers, Zarakynel is the physical representation of Mankind's repressed emotions of jealousy, sadistic pleasure and carnal desire. This potent mix contributed to the creation of the Dark Prince's most feared and prolific Daemonic killer.The name of Zarakynel is written large in the Ordo Malleus' Grimoire of True Names, ever since the Sherilax incursion, when the Pleasure Cults of Sherilax rose up in violent rebellion against the repression of the planetary governor.The sadistic violence of the cult members pleased their god greatly, and he cast forth his Angel of Desire to lay ruin to the planet. Led by Zarakynel, the Chaos Cultists ultimately overran the governor's palace, and the fate of the defenders was too horrific to contemplate.Zarakynel is also well known to the Farseers of the Aeldari species. Asuryani legends speak of Zarakynel preying upon their species several times throughout their long and troubled history. The Greater Daemon has ravaged several Exodite worlds on multiple occasions, slaughtering this Aeldari kindred and feasting upon their Spirit Stones, condemning them to eternal torment at the whims of her dark patron Slaanesh.At one point in her history Zarakynel crossed paths with the Chaos Sorcerer Iskandar Khayon of the Black Legion, as well as his Drukhari companion Nefertari. Nefertari was mortally wounded in the fight, and Iskandar used his psychic powers to defeat Zarakynel in his rage.Though Khayon was unable to permanently kill the Daemon, she was badly injured to the point where she was taken out of action in realspace for more than a Terran millennium while she recuperated her dispersed energies within the Warp.
Zarakynel - Wargear: In battle, Zarakynel wields the dreaded Daemonic Weapon called Souleater, a long, slender Daemonic blade of terrible power, which thirsts for the souls of the innocent.
Zarathusa - Zarathusa: Zarathusa, also called "Zarathusa the Ineffable," is a Necron Overlord of the Mephrit Dynasty, and guardian of the Mephrit's vast solar harvesting network, known as the Starflame, in the Cryptus System.Also titled the "Firesworn," Zarathusa is the last in a long line of keepers of the vast solar mirror that captured the light of the system's twin suns and provided energy for dozens of Necrontyr systems and worlds. Though Zarathusa saw himself as lord of the stars, and his role as one of the most important in his dynasty, though his peers among the other dynasties considered him something of a caretaker.
Zarathusa - Sources: Shield of Baal: Exterminatus (Campaign Supplement) (Digital Edition), pp. 94, 102-104, 283, 280Codex: Necrons (9th Edition), pp. 22, 30
Zardu Layak - Zardu Layak: Zardu Layak, better known by his epithet as the "Crimson Apostle," was a Dark Apostle and the ambitious commander of the chapter of the Unspeaking of the Word Bearers Legion during the latter years of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia.During the Battle of Calth, the Crimson Apostle Zardu Layak and his Ashen Circle destroyer units were charged with enacting some of the worst civilian massacres of the opening solar hours of the battle. This chapter was known to have largely retreated from the planet's surface during the final hours of the war, and would go onto further infamy in the Shadow Crusade.Layak eventually went on to become one of Primarch Lorgar's closest confidantes during the Horus Heresy before betraying his plans to overthrow Horus as the Warmaster of Chaos to lead the Siege of Terra himself. Because of this treachery by his leading lieutenant, Lorgar was banished from Horus' command and it was Layak who commanded the contingent of Word Bearers who fought by Horus' side during the final Chaos assault on Humanity's homeworld.At an unknown time after the end of the Heresy, Zardu Layak was slain but would be honoured as one of the great heroes of the Word Bearers Legion and of the forces of Chaos millennia later.
Zardu Layak - Siege of Terra: Layak participated in the Solar War to cripple the spheres of defence surrounding Terra before the siege of the Throneworld could begin. Layak commanded the Word Bearers forces that remained loyal to Horus under the command of the Sons of Horus' First Captain Ezekyle Abaddon.Displaying a new fanaticism in the service of the Dark Gods, Layak expressed his eagerness to be a martyr for the cause of Chaos. He accompanied Abaddon during the boarding and ultimate destructrion of the White Scars battleship Lance of Heaven, saving the Sons of Horus first captain's life from a powerful blast.Layak served alongside Abaddon when they stormed the Selenar gene-labs of Luna, battling through hordes of cybernetic monstrosities.During the early stages of the Siege of Terra Layak was frequently seen at Horus' side within the Lupercal's Court throne room of the Warmaster's flagship the Vengeful Spirit. Abaddon increasingly blamed Layak's influence for Horus' aloofness from his fellow Heretic Astartes and complete subservience  to the will of the Chaos Gods. However Abaddon was forbidden from killing the Dark Apostle, and his influence over the Warmaster remained strong to the end of his life.Layak proved skilled at utilising Traitor propaganda and the Chaos religious faith in speeches that intensified the devotion of the Traitor forces to Horus' cause. His words were broadcast throughout the Chaos fleet and constantly highlighted the existing injustices of Imperial society to the mutants, Abhumans, normal humans, and Beastmen who served aboard the massive Traitor armada's vessels.Alongside the Thousand Sons Primarch Magnus the Red, Layak aided in the sorcerous ritual that weakened the psychic barrier the Emperor had projected on Terra that prevented the summoning of daemons on the Throneworld's soil. During the ritual Layak appeared on an impermeable floating island of bone which rotated around the Imperial Palace complex in the Himalazian Mountains.On this island of Warp energy, Layak gave yet another rousing address where he declared to the citizens of Terra that they would still be shown mercy if they joined the cause of the Warmaster Horus.Afterwards, Layak confided to Abaddon that the combined power of the Chaos Gods focused through the body of the Warmaster were rapidly burning out Horus' soul with their power.  Layak believed that no matter what happened no mortal being, no matter how powerful, could long serve as a vessel for such potent energies and that Horus was not likely to survive for much longer.He hinted to the Sons of Horus' first captain that he knew that Abaddon had his own great destiny as the new chosen champion of Chaos Undivided and Horus' successor.
Zardu Layak - Death: At some unknown point, Zardu Layak was slain. he was later honoured as a great hero of the Word Bearers and the forces of Chaos. Statues would be erected to his honour on the Word Bearers' Daemon Worlds alongside similar figures such as Argel Tal and the former Chaplain Xaphen, both members of the Gal Vorbak, the very first of the Possessed.
Zardu Layak - Wargear: Artificer ArmourThe Azurda Char'is - This weapon is Zardu Layak's Force Stave. Not a member of his Legion's Librarius, it is unknown how the Crimson Apostle acquired this potent psychic artefact, or by what hidden lore he has modified it to his usage.Panoply of Flame - An inheritance of his days as a Centurion-Iconoclast of the Ashen Circle of the XVIIth Legion, the Panoply of Flame serves both as a war banner to invigorate those under his command and as a weapon to turn on his enemies -- Zardu Layak's Warp-gifts allowing him to mould the unclean flame the Panoply now produces by will alone.Bolt PistolFrag GrenadesKrak Grenades