Aquillon, Occuli Imperator, ‘Eyes of the Emperor’, Custodian

Vendatha, Custodian

Kalhin, Custodian

Nirllus, Custodian

Sythran, Custodian

The 301st Expedition Fleet

Baloc Torvus, Master of the Fleet

Arric Jesmetine, Major, Euchar 54th Infantry

Imperial Personae

Cyrene Valantion, Confessor of the Word

Ishaq Kadeen, Official remembrancer, imagist

Absolom Cartik, Personal astropath to the Occuli Imperator

Legio Cybernetica

Incaradine, Conqueror Primus of the 9th Maniple, Carthage Cohort

Xi-Nu 73, Tech-Adept of the 9th Maniple, Carthage Cohort

Non-Imperial Personae

Ingethel, Emissary of the Primordial Truth

PART ONE

GREY

Forty-three years before the events of Isstvan V

‘Kill me then, “Emperor”. Better to die in freedom’s twilight than draw breath at the dawn of tyranny. May the gods grant me my last wish: that my spirit lingers long enough to laugh when your faithless kingdom at last falls apart.’

– Daival Shan, Terran separatist

warlord, at his execution.

‘If a man gathers ten thousand suns in his hands... If a man seeds a hundred thousand worlds with his sons and daughters, granting them custody of the galaxy itself... If a man guides a million vessels between the infinite stars with a mere thought... Then I pray you tell me, if you are able, how such a man is anything less than a god.’

– Lorgar Aurelian, Primarch

of the Word Bearers