Artellus Numeon - The One-Eyed King: Nocturne is a land of myths and mysticism which has brought forth many philosophers and prophets. During the Charybdis’ voyage several incidents related to the obscure prophecy of the one-eyed king. Firstly, the Charybdis’ Navigator experienced a vision and began uncontrollably mumbling the one-eyed King's phophecy, then, the unconscious Epistolary Ushamann scratched a line of the prophecy into bare metal, "Unearths Kabar." Nobody truly knew what to expect, save perhaps Quor Gallek, the Dark Apostle.The one-eyed king manifested himself in the middle of the fierce fighting aboard the Charybdis. Those psychically gifted amongst the Astartes had been feeling it for several minutes now: a vast bow-wave in the Aether, the coming of an immensely powerful being. The one-eyed king’s coming interrupted the fighting in every quarter of the ship: Xathen, the Pyroclast Sergeant bent on redemption after his previous failings was dueling the Word Bearer know as Degat after having slaughtered six of his men. With kaskara-sword and long serrated knife he had been battling Degat’s roaring chainaxe, loosing ground and his weapons until a well-timed shot from Techmarine Zonn’s retrieved Plasma Pistol let the Word Bearer fly backwards. But just as he aimed his new weapon for a perfect headshot, Xathen’s prey disappeared, pulled back through the Warp. Quor Gallek who had reached Vulkan’s body after having dispatched of Kaspian Hecht, was likewise interrupted in his attempts of retrieving the fulgurite stone, his Asirnoth Blade allowing him nonetheless to escape with a small fragment of the stone. Sensing the onrushing bow-wave, the Dark Apostle annulled his spell and transported himself and his warrior back onbard the Monarchia through the Immaterium. Such was the power of the approaching entity that the daemons - which had by now been revealed as Daemonettes of Slaanesh - fled the Charbydis’ corridor where they had surrounded Artellus Numeon, leaving the former First Captain to face this new threath alone. Then the one-eyed king manifested himself. His mere presence had caused the Salamanders’ enemies to flee, leaving the warriors of the Pyre disorientated but ultimately victorious. None truly knew what was happening, and as time stood still some of them perhaps wondered what had happened; save for one brave one-eyed warrior which still stood resolute before the one-eyed king and would thus learn the truth of it : Artellus Numeon. Still clenching Draukoros in his fist, Numeon starred defiantly at this new apparition, more terrible and powerful than those he had already faced. But where the ghosts and daemons had been an unknown enemy to him, Artellus Numeon knew fully well whom he faced now: the omnipotent One-Eyed King whose arrogance would cause his fall, the Crimson King of the XV Legion - Magnus the Red, Primarch of the Thousand Sons.It became quickly appearant that this was not the true Primarch of the XV Legion but a simulacrum, a mental projection across the Immaterium much as the daemons were. Despite his best efforts, Numeon automatically fell to his knees, his defiance only strong enough to stare at the Primarch. As equerry to his Primarch and father, Numeon had of course met Magnus the Red, but their encounter had been brief and many years ago; yet Numeon remarked that this Primarch somehow seemed diminished. Something had obviously happened to Magnus, for his temper seemed up and the air around him shimered with heat radiance. The Primarch-apparition was talking to itself, conductinga sombre monologue whch Numeon did not dare interrupt. This ultimately proved to be wise, as both the Salamanders’ and the Primarch of the XV’s fates were balanced on a razor’s edge; waiting to see which way they would fall. Magnus finally turned his attention to the still kneeling Numeon, scolding him for his carelessness and his ignorance of the realm they sailed and the dangers it carried. Sensing that nothing could be gained by duplicity, Numeon did not try to hie the fact that they were utterly lost, and that without Magnus’ help they would surely perish. Numeon argued that if Magnus had truly come to destroy them, he would have already done it, thus implying that the Primarch’s presence had other reasons. Was he too covinced that Vulkan still lived? Clearly the Charbydis’ odyssey did carry meaning, otherwise the Primarch would not have appeared at all.With this in mind, Numeon confessed his faith in Vulkan’s ressurrection, that his father and Primarch could be restored through the Circle of Fire. So he did the only sensible thing: he asked for Magnus’ help.The Primarch apparition did not flinch or seemed surprised at this request, rather amused. Magnus asked him why he should help them at all before taunting Numeon. In a mere matters of seconds the Primarch’s apparition changed, his flashing red mane of hair disappeared to be replaced by a shaven onyx-black head, his armour grew additional layers out of thin air, changing from ruddy bronze to emerald plate, his entire stature became bulkier and more powerful and even his cape suddenly grew the scales of a Salamander’s hide, suddenly a perfect simulacra of Vulkan stood before Numeon - even his voice had become Vulkan’s. This transformation infuriated Numeon to the point of finally being able to overcome his previous paralysis, standing on his two feet Numeon recused the apparition, knowing fully well that this was not his father. "You are not him..." Numeon said, "This is a lie". The apparition did not take this rebuke kindly, seizing Numeon by the throath and pressing him onto the wall of Vulkan’s funerary chamber. "A lie, is it?" the apparition countered with Vulkan’s voice, yet with so much venom in it that the true Primarch would have never said it. Still choking Numeon the apparition changed yet again, drake-like fangs erupting from its mouth where a forked tongue slithered forwards to taste the air; its eyes became more reptilian and when it blinked a nictating membrane covered the would-be Vulkan’s eyes. Lastly the false Primarch’s skin was covered in scales resembling more than ever a true dragon of Terran mythology. Fighting the unconsciousness that dared to take him, Numeon answered the apparition, that he was not Vulkan and that maybe he was not even Magnus. This prompted the apparition to let go of him and resume its inital appearance. Restored Magnus the Red towered again over Numeon taunting him with his truths: that he had died on Traoris and been ressurected himself by the will of Magnus, that all the miracles he had witnessed had not occurred through Vulkan’s power, but through his. Yet again Numeon refused to believe these lies, he had been touched by Vulkan’s might and he would see him restored; this was nothing more than an other test of his faith and resolve, one that he would pass. The apparition asked him one final question, what would he sacrifice to see Vulkan restored?, upon which Numeon answered that he would give everything to reach Nocturne. Displeased by this answer, stating it was not what he had asked, the apparition surrounded itself with light and send the Charbydis crashing back into reality.The translation into reality was not a smooth one, and it was almost miraculous that the Charbydis did not suffer more severely from it. With their tethers to the Immaterium severed, the daemons quickly vanished leaving the Salamanders bloodied, diminished and confused. Numeon himself was thrown widely along the cargo hold, hitting unsecured items mid-flight with enough force to dislocate his shoulder; hadn’t it been for the assistance of Kaspian Hecht which had quickly recovered his wits, his injuries could have been much more severe. The Word Bearers had left in disarray shortly before Magnus’ arrival and found themselves in a difficult position as well. The Reaper’s Shroud, Maelig Laestygon’s vessel had caught up with their own ship and was undoubtedly even now calculating firing solution on the Monarchia to ensure Quor Gallek’s compliance. Despite Degat’s misgivings of being kept from a promising duel, the Word Bearers‘ mission had largely succeeded for Quor Gallek had retrieved a sliver of the fulgurite stone, and even ascertained that the traitor Barthusa Narek was present onboard the Charbydis, mascarading as Malcador’s Knight Errant Kaspian Hecht. Certain that Vulkan was already dead and with little reason to doubt that Magnus the Red would not destroy the Salamanders himself, Quor Gallek assumed that he had reached all his objectives. Yet, Magnus’ intent had been quite different: not only was the Charbydis still alive and warp-capable, but the Crimson King had allowed the vessel to overcome the Ruinstorm, and to the Salamanders’ great surprise they found themselves not in the vicinty of Macragge, but that of holy Terra. Numeon tentatively suggested that the reason for this was a last gesture of fraternity, Magnus and Vulkan - however different - having always been close.