List of Gaunt's Ghosts Characters

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Gaunt's Ghosts (Novel Series)

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Characters that appear in the Gaunt's Ghosts Novel Series by Dan Abnett.

Tanith First and Only ("Gaunt's Ghosts")

Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt

Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt is the commanding officer of the Tanith First and Only.

Colonel Colm Corbec

Colonel Colm Corbec was the 2nd-in-command of the Tanith First-and-Only, killed in action on the Shrineworld of Herodor by the traitor Lijah Cuu 765.M41 - 773.M41 (KIA).

Major Elim Rawne

Second officer and senior Tanith representative. Effective 2nd-in-command of the regiment since the death of Colonel Corbec, gained temporary command when Colonel-Commissar Gaunt was believed killed.

Major Gol Kolea

Senior Verghast officer, suffered brain damage but apparently completely healed by Saint Sabbat.

Commissar Viktor Hark

Hark is like Gaunt; neither a Tanith born nor a Vervunhiver, he was introduced to the Ghosts by General Lugo on Hagia and was there to make sure that Gaunt completed his final mission. When Gaunt refused to complete the mission and Hark was unable to take command, he decided to help rally the Tanith against the Infardi, until they were repelled. There he proved himself in battle and gained the respect of both the Tanith and Major Rawne. Afterwards Hark was asked to join the Tanith regiment permanently as a Commissar and since then has proved his worth time after time, including when he got Trooper Caffran off a murder and rape charge when the crime was actually committed by another trooper, Lijah Cuu. Though hated at first, Hark earns the grudging respect of the Tanith over time, and is eventually very well respected in the unit. During the battle on Herodor, Hark was severely injured and lost his left arm, forcing him to use a prosthetic. He stays on with the Tanith First while Gaunt leaves for his EZ Level mission on Gereon.

Though a dedicated Commissar who follows the Commissariat strictly, Hark has his own, softer style of exacting his duty, influenced by Gaunt's own style. This can be shown when he does not execute a groups of allied soldiers fleeing when their unit was broken, but their commander instead, as with thorough leadership the men would not have broken. Though he has great respect for the Tanith, Hark is still dedicated to the rules of the Imperium, immediately reporting the psyker, Agun Soric though he knew the kind of punishment awaiting the psyker.

Hark was also known for his possession of a plasma pistol, whose firepower proved to be indispensable in countless battles, including the killing of at least one Stalker. However, he gave his pistol to another Commissar, Genadey Novobazky, to use in a suicidal rear guard mission.

Chief Scout Sergeant Oan Mkoll

The leader of the Tanith's elite scout unit, Mkoll is not a person to be taken lightly. True to his job description, Mkoll can blend seamlessly into the environment and move with almost perfect stealth. He also has the unique ability of being able to intuitively know which way to lead his men, being able to find meaning in something as warped as a Chaos mobile base. He is also quite adept at silently killing any enemies that may cross his path. Mkoll's skills are so highly tuned, that he at one point outsmarted and killed a Dark Eldar assassin unaided, killed several stalkers, and personally killed Chaos warlord Sagittar Slaith. Because of Mkoll's skills, Gaunt gives Mkoll a wide berth to operate, always letting him choose who he wants to recruit as a scout. Due to his exacting standards, he only takes the best of the stealthers in the Tanith First to be trained.

Mkoll was part of the Mission team to Gereon where his stealth skills increased dramatically during his time working with the Gereon Resistance, astounding the other Scouts upon the return of the 'Lost' members to the Regiment.

Sergeant/Captain Arcuda

A thin faced Verghastite, Arcuda took over Indrimmo's platoon after Phantine. Saw his first action as a sergeant on Aexe Cardinal, but luckily did not sustain the casualties that Raglon did. Company leader in the new 1st regiment.

Sergeant Lhurn Adare

One of the original Tanith, Adare, along with Varl, Bragg, Corbec, Larkin and a few others were considered to be the backbone of the Tanith Regiment. His tactical smarts and likable attitude got him the sergeant's bars, in which, quite famously, he gets roaring drunk with several of the Tanith. Picked as one of the squad leaders for the Larisel operation, Adare was killed in action. His platoon went on to be headed by Raglon.

Sergeant Blane

One of the early Tanith sergeants from the original regiment Founding, Gaunt tasked Blane with watching the Tanith's rear during the Menazoid Epsilon Campaign, when he suspected that Dravere's henchmen would make their bid for the information Gaunt had in his possession. Sure enough, the Jantine Patricians, a veteran Guard regiment with equipment far superior to the lightly armed Tanith, assaulted the Ghosts from behind. Blane and his Platoon sold their lives dearly, dying to a man holding up the Patricians and causing casualties many times their own number.

Sergeant/Captain Raglon

Once one of the 1st's vox operators, Raglon was promoted to platoon sergeant after Adare was killed on Phantine. In his first action as sergeant (on Aexe Cardinal) one of his Troopers, Costin, is drinking and his drunken carelessness results in one of the Shadik catching the reflection off his sacra bottle. The platoon is ambushed, and sustain almost 50% casualties; when Gaunt arrives to execute Costin, Raglon pleads for the soldier's life. However, despite this shortcoming, Raglon's platoon becomes one of the best. Company leader in the new 1st regiment.

Sergeant Agun Soric

As an old, charismatic Vervunhive smeltery worker, Soric ended up leading their guerrilla resistance force against Zoican invaders. He lost an eye during the war in Vervunhive, but took it as a badge of pride. After joining the Tanith First, he was still regarded as a sort of totem pole for the Verghastite half of the regiment. He was effectively the Verghastites' version of Colm Corbec, and like the Tanith officer, Soric was universally liked and respected.

His great-grandmother had been a witch, and as a seventh son of a seventh son, Soric was destined to share this talent. He never showed any psychic powers until on Phantine, where he saved Corbec's life by simply 'knowing' that he had a blood poisoning. Since then, he started receiving messages, apparently written by himself, which told him critical information from the battlefield as well as events that would happen in the future. Despite being instrumental in winning on Herodor, he was taken away by the Black Ships after the battle.

When taken by the Black Ships, Soric was a confirmed Beta-Level Psyker. His last action was slipping a note to Commissar Hark which read, "Help me."

Since Soric's departure Gaunt has been plagued by dreams of a familiar, screaming voice that he knew but could not recognise.

On the mission to Jago he was part of a psyker detachment of a guard regiment. Soric kept the members of the Tanith regiment on alert by giving them visions including former ghosts (such as Bragg and Cuu). After destroying some Blood Pact with his powers, he then asked Hark to end his pain, so Hark executed him.

Sergeant Tona Criid

Criid is a tough girl. Raised amongst the streetgangs of Verunhive she is as determined as she is fierce. A hard thin girl she has been instrumental in paving the way for female troopers in the Tainth regiment. Criid took on the responsibility of platoon sergeant, after sergeant Gol Kolea was wounded at the battle of Ouranberg, a position she excelled at. Despite her rough exterior, she is incredibly protective of her adopted children and of her lover Caffran. Ever since her participation with Gaunt in his mission to Gereon, it becomes evident that Criid might be a psyker. She had an accurate premonition of Wilder taking command of the Tanith First in Gaunt's absence, and has had disturbing dreams of Gaunt's impending death.

She participated in the covert mission to Gereon.

Sergeant Ceglan Varl

A popular Tanith trooper, and a joker to the core, Varl is considered to be part of the 'backbone' of the Tanith, along with a few others from the original Tanith regiment. Varl lost his shoulder and most of his upper arm on Fortis Binary, and as such, Varl received a bulky, but powerful augmetic replacement. Although staunchly loyal, his jokes and otherwise questionable antics often get him, or his friends, in trouble. He is known as a showman, pulling tricks to con money out of other regiments or just to pass the time. Varl is also quite accomplished with his blade, amazing his comrades in the barracks with his slight-of-hand tricks and complex knife throwing. Varl is also best friends with Kolea, and was the one who missed him the most when Kolea's mind was temporarily wiped clean.

He accompanied Gaunt to Gereon, and has proved his loyalty time and time again to Gaunt and the Ghosts. He is known as one of the more approachable and affable officers of the regiment having worked his way up from the ranks.

Sergeant Dermon Caffran

Caffran is one of the best Tanith field troopers. Small but well-built, he is swift and ruthless on the attack, well known for his storm clearance. Caffran is well-known to be romantically involved with the Verunhive trooper Tona Criid. The two of them met during the apocalyptic siege of Verunhive, where Caffran helps Criid (then a civilian) and her two adopted children to stay alive. Caffran and Criid have been together ever since, Caffran taking on the role as father for Criid's children, Yoncy and Dalin Kolea. During the liberation of Ouranberg Caffran was heavily implicated in the murder and rape of a civilian though he was saved from execution by Commissar Hark. During Wilders command of the regiment and later actions, Caffran was a squad leader in Meryn's company. Unfortunately, Caffran was killed after being shot by a scared civilian child (aged 10) during the liberation of Gereon. Ayatani Zweil conducted death rites over him, and Tona Criid later gave his cap badge to Dalin.

Sergeant Baffels

A bearded man in his early forties with a barrel chest and a blue tattoo claw that lined his cheek. Received a field promotion to Sergeant during the siege for Vervunhive. Though initially perturbed by his promotion, he made it his duty to live up to Gaunt's expectations. He died taking the depot at Bhavnager on Hagia.

Master Sniper 'Mad' Hlaine Larkin

Master Sniper 'Mad' Hlaine Larkin is the head sniper of the Tanith First and Only Regiment. He is unarguably the best marksman in the Tanith First which is no small feat, considering that the vast majority of the Tanith are excellent marksmen themselves. The only two people ever considered to be his rivals are the Tanith sniper Rilke, killed in action on Phantine, and the Verghastite sharpshooter Jessi Banda. (Although Eszrah is supposedly an excellent sniper almost matching or even surpassing Larkin, because his Reynbow is made for single-shot kills.) Up until the Gereon mission, Larkin was equipped with a nalwood stocked long-las, a longer ranged sniper variant of the lasgun. It is later replaced with a standard issue Long-las, although Larkin still misses his old one.

It is well known that Larkin and Bragg were close friends and would back each other up in combat with their differing skills. However, Bragg's death at the hands of Lijah Cuu affects Larkin deeply.

Larkin was also closely associated with Cuu, as the two men had a deeply antagonistic attitude towards each other. Cuu made frequent death threats against Larkin, while for his part, Larkin silently contemplates murdering Cuu. They both get into numerous scuffles and fights, but it is Larkin who ultimately kills Cuu on Herodor after a psychically imprinted Cuu tries to assassinate Saint Sabbat.

Larkin exhibited erratic and paranoid behavior at times. He suffered from hallucinations and projected his fears onto inanimate objects. He felt that he could only see the truth through the scope of his sniper rifle. He explained to an 'angel' during one of his hallucinatory fits that he suffers from epilepsy. However, since the Gereon mission, Larkin was a different man, as if the horrors he witnessed there had scared him sane: Most would argue about how such experiences should have permanently thrown his sanity over the edge, and thus it would seem he, figuratively speaking, came through the other side.

During the liberation effort on Gereon, Larkin was caught under a wrecked truck and was about to be run over by an enemy tank, prompting Gaunt to cut off one of Larkin's feet. Though incredibly distressed at losing his foot, Larkin quickly forgot about it when he was reunited with his old long-las which he had been forced to leave behind on Gereon.

It was Larkin who came up with the Tanith First and Only Regiment's nickname: Gaunt's Ghosts. He has a knack for coining such memorable phrases such as 'Lijah Fething Cuu' and 'Eszrah Night'

Sniper Jessi Banda

Jessi Banda is a female Vervunhiver. She decided that she would be one of the few female snipers in the regiment. Jessi and Major Rawne became romantically involved with each other during the battle on Aexe Cardinal, where they were wounded and ended up spending a lot of time near each other in the medical tent. While Rawne was away on Gereon, she took to having an affair with Captain Meryn. Upon Rawne's arrival back to the regiment, she abandoned her feelings for Rawne, and decided to try and tempt Meryn into kicking Rawne out of the chain of command.

Sniper Nessa Bourah

One of Kolea's original scratch company, she fought against the Zoicans at Vervunhive. Permanently deafened by shelling, she has gone beyond her impairment to become an excellent sniper in the Tanith First. She accompanied Corbec when they were moving to the Shrinehold, and later survived Operation Larisel at Phantine. She is regarded as the prettiest woman in the regiment, not because of a feminine body but because of her beautiful face. For reasons not explained in the books, she is referred to primarily by her first name, unlike the other female soldiers in the regiment - for example, Jessi Banda, Tona Criid and Sehra Muril are normally referred to "Banda", "Criid" and "Muril" respectively.

Sniper Sehra Muril

A Vervunhiver, Muril is like most other female Ghosts: She is an excellent sniper. She was the sniper in Corbec's platoon, and when asked why by Rawne, Corbec responded by saying that Muril had a "deliciously dirty laugh" and that her red hair reminded him of a girl "he'd been a fething fool to leave on Tanith". The real reason, however, is that Corbec believed she was almost the best shot in the regiment, second only to Mad Larkin. Larkin shares the secret of Bragg's death with her, but she is killed by Cuu. Mkvenner was going to recommend her to Mkoll for her scouting abilities, but Cuu murders her before she becomes one of the first Vervun scouts.

Sniper Rilke

Rilke was the 2nd best sniper in the regiment. He was selected to participate on the Spike assault on Vervunhive and to aid in the commando raid on Ouranberg. Rilke was in Mkoll's team, Larisel 4; when its drop ship was subsequently destroyed, Rilke was killed along with Nour and Cocoer. Unlike most of the snipers, Rilke used a needle las.

Scout Trooper Caober

Gaunt's personal platoon scout up until the events on Herodor, Caober was reckoned to be one of the best scouts in the regiment along with Mkoll, Mkvenner, Bonin, Leyr and Hwlan. After Gaunt and the team departed for Gereon, Caober became the scout leader during Wilder's reign. Currently in the scout squad as of "The Armour of Contempt".

Scout Trooper Mkvenner

Mkvenner was Corbec's scout up until the battle of Herodor, and subsequently accompanied Gaunt on the Gereon mission. He opted to stay behind when the main party left. When the Ghosts returned to Gereon, the resistance had pronounced him dead. However, it should be noted while Eszrah Ap Nihte is gathering toxins and "wode" to replenish his stocks, he comes across a man, clad in the rags and wode of a Nightwalker, yet this figure wears the remnants of a camo cloak. Mkoll himself believes to have 'smelt'/detected Mkvenner whilst waiting for extraction from the Untill during the Gereon Liberation. There is also the unexplainable event of how all of the captured Gereon resistance and Nightwalker fighters managed to escape Imperial custody undetected. These incidents could very well mean that Mkvenner is still alive but has his existence known to no one. As Mkvenner is an accomplished scout and stealth operator, it comes as no surprise that he managed to live in the Untillilable lands of Gereon.

Mkvenner is the best close combat fighter in the entire regiment, even better than the late, psychotic Lijah Cuu. While retaking Cirenholm on Phantine, he held off an entire platoon of Blood pact with nothing more than his bayoneted rifle, using it like a quarterstaff. This comes as no surprise as Mkvenner is the last surviving Tanith to have been trained in the ancient art of Cwlwhl, the fighting techniques perfected by the Nalsheen wood warriors, legendary heroes who overthrew the corrupt Huhlhuch Dynasty and ushered in the era of modern free Tanith. He also managed to suppress two wire-wolves (Daemons) on Gereon using only an empty lasgun as a fighting staff.

Scout Trooper Simon Urvin Macharius "Lucky" Bonin

Domor's scout trooper, 'Mach' Bonin is reckoned to be luckiest man in the regiment; he survived a deadly fever as a child, he lived in a tent through two hard winters on Tanith while his parents were rebuilding his home. After the fall of Tanith, he fought with the Ghosts and took part in the Spike assault on Verghast. He fell off the colossal war machine of Heritor Asphodel and was believed dead. He survived, thanks to his amazing luck, but now has a steel vertebrae and pelvic joint due to his extensive injuries. He escaped unharmed from the Ouranberg mission and survived Gereon. Currently in the scout squad as of "The Armour of Contempt". He personally killed a Stalker with only his Tanith knife.On action on Jago he received a las round to the back of the head and was presumed dead, but due to his luck, somehow survived.

Scout Trooper Leyr

Rawne's scout, Leyr is tough and hard edged as was most of Rawne's platoon. A thin, middle aged man, he served in the Tanith Militia before the fall. Leyr is also one of the only men Rawne trusts. Currently in the scout squad as of "The Armour of Contempt".

Scout Trooper Heqta Jajjo

A Vervunhiver, Jajjo is the only Verghastite scout in the Tanith regiment. Mkvenner personally honed his skills, and Jajjo proved his worth by escaping a firefight in the Montorq forest on Aexe Cardinal to carry word of the enemy advance back to the Imperial lines. Currently in the scout squad as of "The Armour of Contempt", although Mkvenner promoted him to scout at the end of Straight Silver

Scout Trooper Baen

Once Varl's scout, Baen is a cheerful, yet hard edged, like most of the scouts. Currently in the scout squad as of "The Armour of Contempt".

Scout Trooper Doyl

One of the 1st's most renowned scouts, Doyl was Soric's scout up until "The Guns of Tanith". He was picked for the Larisel operation, in Adare's squad. When the squad was attacked and subsequently split up, Doyl accompanied Adare and Phantine Trooper Cardinale. Shortly after their hunt begins, Adare is (messily) killed by one the vicious loxatl. Doyl fights bravely until the end, but unfortunately it is not enough, and he is killed, with a prayer on his lips. A good friend of Soric's, he was missed by all of 4th platoon.

Scout Trooper Wes Maggs

Trooper Maggs is a Belladon trooper who was brought into the regiment with the influx of troops from the 81-1st. He was part of a recon squad in the old regiment, so he decided to try and join them in the First and Only. His scout skills are renowned, he has even paired himself up with Mkoll during the assault on Ancreon Sextus. One of a group of troopers who helped the Tanith soldier Merrt. Currently in the scout squad as of Only in Death. Has recurring visions of an old woman with a disfigured face, wearing a black lace dress, but this is later shown to be a physic imprint from Agun Soric, who is trying to warn them.

Trooper Brin Milo

Milo was a servant in the household of the Elector Count of Tanith before Tanith's destruction. He saved Gaunt from being killed by Chaos warriors as he escaped from Tanith in its final moments. Being too young to become a soldier during the time, he was made Gaunt's personal adjutant, and was considered as a mascot of a sort for the regiment. He showed unnerving abilities of prediction, being able to bring Gaunt battle plans or coffee before he even asked for them, and was even suspected for witchcraft because of this. Shortly after, he finally joined the regiment as a soldier, having come of age recently. He proves himself to be an excellent soldier, and shows all of the hallmarks of becoming a terrific leader. Milo is also known to play the pipes, especially whenever the Tanith finally leave the field of battle.

On Hagia, Milo met a young priest student named Sanian, likely falling in love with her. At the same time, he received a prophecy from an older priest remarking on how his future would not involve him being a simple soldier. He met her again on Herodor, when she had become a vessel for the newly-born Saint Sabbat, and left the Ghosts in favour of joining with her to the front lines of the Crusade, fulfilling the prophecy foretold to him. This departure deeply affects Gaunt, who has always regarded Milo as something like a son to him, and he gives Milo his Tanith warknife before Milo leaves, to replace Milo's lost warknife.

Trooper 'Try Again' Bragg

'Try Again' Bragg got his nickname because of his terrible aim; he would always miss his first shot, although the firepower from his heavy weapons meant that he could afford to miss occasionally. He is also known for being one of the strongest men in the Tanith First. Bragg's herculean size and strength enables him to carry heavy weapons and equipment that usually require a team of operators with ease, as well as being a terrifying opponent in hand-to-hand combat. While most people regard Bragg as all brawn and no brain, Gaunt is aware that Bragg has a kind of silent intelligence, and that he may in fact be the smartest man in the entire regiment. Unfortunately, Bragg was murdered by Lijah Cuu at Ouranberg after turning him in for looting. Bragg was known to be Larkin's close friend. His death affected Larkin deeply. Both Larkin and Gaunt have since been haunted by visions of Bragg.

Bragg's standard wargear is a Autocannon, frag grenades and the camo cloak which is standard for Tanith infantry, though he has been known to carry a missile launcher, assault cannon chaingun, or twin-linked autocannon (literally two heavy machine guns welded side by side). He also had the greatest talent for making sacra, the favoured Tanith liquour, and after his death, the few remaining bottles made by him were considered almost holy relics among the First, referred to as "the sacra". One such bottle is labeled "Try Again's Finest."

Trooper Murtan Feygor

Feygor was Rawne's adjutant and it is said that other than himself, Feygor is the only man that Rawne would ever totally trust and call a friend. However this was disproven in Sabbat Martyr as Rawne says he trusts Jessi Banda, Caffran and his scout Leyr. He was known as one of the group of malcontents in the Ghosts who hated Gaunt for not allowing them to fight for Tanith. During the fighting at Vervunhive, he took a lasround in the throat that destroyed his voicebox. The augmetic replacement gave him a monotone voice which fitted his sarcastic nature. Feygor was part of the Gereon Mission, even saving Gaunt's life but later died on Ancreon Sextus, where he was killed after he detonated an explosive device in the spire city of Sparshad Mons.

Feygor was friends with Rawne before the Founding, as they ran a black market operation in Tanith Attica. Like Rawne he was an expert in explosives.

Trooper Lijah Cuu

Lijah Cuu was another Vervunhiver recruited into the Ghosts after the battle for Vervunhive. A natural born killer, he was amoral and disliked by most of the Ghosts, especially Larkin. He has looted shops, despite the coins being defaced, and has even raped and murdered a civilian woman. He murdered 'Try Again' Bragg on Phantine for turning him in for looting, and then Sehra Muril on Aexe Cardinal after she accused him of Bragg's murder. He also made several unsuccessful attempts on Larkin's life for the same reasons. He killed Corbec and wounded Gaunt and Dorden on Hereodor with a lasgun while trying to assassinate Saint Sabbat, but was shot dead by Larkin as he was trying to finish off Gaunt with his knife. At the time of his attempted assassination he was under the psychic influence of Pater Sin's psykers who exploited his murderous nature to imprint him with the task of killing Saint Sabbat.

Trooper Dalin Criid

At the age of 18, Dalin Criid, Criid and Caffran's adopted son, has decided to follow in his foster parents' footsteps and join the Tanith First-and-Only. He is loved not only by his foster parents, but by a majority of the Ghosts as well, including Varl, Kolea, and even Gaunt. However, during training, he was temporarily assigned to a reserve unit and survived his first major battle while separated from the Ghosts. After the reserve unit is disbanded, Dalin is allowed to return to his original unit and officially becomes a Ghost. He was welcomed to the unit by the opening of a bottle of Try Again's Finest; one of the few remaining bottles of sacra brewed by "Try Again" Bragg. During the war on Gereon, Dalin kept hearing voices from who he believed was Caffran, warning him to immediate dangers; this may suggest that he is the next in a series of Ghosts who have or are thought to have psychic talents, the others being Agun Soric, who was taken to the Black Ships when his talent was discovered, and Tona Criid, who may or may not be a psyker but has had startlingly accurate premonitions.

Prior to Gereon, (during transit) Dalin is a member of RIP (Retraining, Indoctrination and Punishment) - he himself is there for Indoctrination, and during the Gereon Invasion he is Part of AT 137, which consists of the members of the RIP Detail. After the battle, this unit is disbanded and Dalin is returned to the Ghosts.

Dalin currently serves under Captain Flynn Merrin as his Adjutant

Flame-Trooper Aongus Brostin

Trooper Brostin a native of Tanith, is described as a hairy, heavyset, heavily tattooed brute. One of the most skilled flamer operators in the Tanith regiment, he has an affinity with fire which is legendary amongst his comrades. There are mixed rumours in the regiment about Brostin's experience with fire; one rumour is that Brostin gained this experience while working in the Fire Service on Tanith, while another rumour says he has served a prison sentence for arson. Brostin likes to show off his skills with fire, and also tries to perpetuate myths that fire and he have an understanding. Brostin's skills with fire also extend to liquor distilling - he brews and sells sacra which is regarded as passable by his fellow troopers (as much for Chimera anti-freeze as a drink), but not as good as Bragg's brew. It is highly suggested that Brostin is a borderline, if not full on, pyromaniac. Part of Rawne's gang, Brostin is undisciplined and vengeful.

While a member of the mission team on Gereon, he pulls a diversionary stunt, which involved a promethium-filled Tanker, a bridge, a lho stick, and fire retardant foam jelly, which results in a large doughnut-shaped fireball and many enemies dead. He also develops another stunt along with the aid of Larkin, which they call the 'Airburst Special' in which Brostin throws a pair of full promethium tanks into the air at the target, and Larkin shoots down both, dropping a pair of fireballs on the enemy's head.

Trooper Derin

One of the troopers injured on Hagia who accompanied Corbec and Dorden on their holy quest to the Shrine in the Hagian mountains though he did so because of his dedication to duty more than any kind of holy inspiration. Trooper Derin was in Kolea's company as of "The Armour of Contempt."

Trooper Niceg Vamberfeld

A former clerk from Vervunhive, Vamberfeld was not psychologically stable for warfare and was injured in the fighting on Hagia. Due to this, he was unable to join most of the regiment to save the physical remains of Saint Sabbat from the planet before the arrival of massive Chaos army. He was nevertheless convinced to join Corbec and the rest of the wounded to follow. On the way, though he became increasingly more unstable, he found a piece of Sabbat's old herd staff, used by her when she had still been a herder before becoming a Saint. Eventually, using this half of the staff, he sacrificed himself to start up the ancient machines in Saint Sabbat's tomb that would scatter the entire Chaos army, saving the lives of all Ghosts as well as many others.

It is noted that Vamberfeld suffered nine wounds before he died, a reference to the Nine Holy Wounds suffered by the Saint Sabbat

Trooper Loglas

A Tanith, Loglas was in Obel's platoon along with Larkin and Bragg. During the trench warfare of Aexe Cardinal, Cuu cornered Larkin and attempted to kill him. Loglas was passing by, and approached Cuu with balled up fists, when the Forces of Chaos launched a bombardment. A shell hit their dugout, and decapitated Loglas. Unfortunately for Larkin, Loglas was the last Tanith Trooper to hear Cuu's death threat, and as such, Cuu went on to kill Sehra Muril and Colm Corbec.

Trooper Rhen Merrt

Trooper Rhen Merrt was one of the original Tanith snipers with a hit rate lower than Larkin's or Rilke's but still impressive. He sustained a terrible injury on Monthax, taking a las-blow to the jaw. He received an augmetic replacement, which ruined his accuracy. He was dropped from the sniper group, and ever since he has been lacking self-esteem. He has been slumming in gambling bars and clubs on troop ships, and generally not in good spirits. Because of this, several of his soldiering friends decided to keep an eye out for him. This was a good plan of theirs, because he gets into a big gambling debt with a club. He is nearly killed by the club owner's thugs, but luckily Commissar Hark and Junior Commissar Ludd save him. Hark then punished him for his action. He is put into the RIP detail, where he meets Dalin Criid, and they become good friends, saving each other on more than one occasion on Gereon and during RIP detail. He was transferred back into the 1st at the end of "The Armour of Contempt".

Trooper Lesp

Field Medic. Acts as one of Dorden's orderlies. A tall thin man from Tanith Longshore with cold blue eyes and an adams apple that looks like a knee in his slender neck. Back on Tanith he and his famiy were sea fishermen who plied the currents beyond the Archipelago. His skill with a sail cloth and net needle and an almost surgical knack with a blade had led to Dorden to put those skills to use as a medical orderly.

Trooper Ifvan

Varl's lackey and second in command, Ifvan is usually involved in Varl's gambling schemes or any other instances where Varl can con money from other regiments. Almost killed by Alliance Troopers on Aexe Cardinal, Mkoll saved his life.

Trooper Vivvo

Soric's adjutant and fellow Verghastite, Vivvo is in Soric's largely Verghastite platoon. One of the only soldiers to know about Soric's foresight ability, Vivvo is staunchingly loyal and claimed that Soric's psychic ability wasn't Chaos, since his ability was only helping the Ghosts.

Trooper Mikal Dorden

A Communications Operator in Sergeant Hasker's Platoon, Mikal Dorden was killed in action at Veveyr Gate in Vervunhive. He was Chief Medic Tolin Dorden's son. Tolin and Mikal were the only two related Ghosts left from Tanith and his death hit Tolin Dorden extremely hard. At Hagia, Chief Medic Dorden saw visions of his son, inspiring him to join Corbec's mission to the Shrinehold.

Trooper Drayl

Drayl was a handsome, popular soldier whose songs and good humour kept his platoon in decent spirits. His superiors also knew that Drayl's roguish exploits were a matter of regimental legend. By accident was affected by a shard of an altar of Chaos when the Colonel Corbec shot it to eliminate any Chaos trace.¹

Medic Ana Curth

Medic Ana Curth joined the regiment after the assault on Vervunhive. Just after the assault, Chief Medic Dorden and Curth lead an investigation into the mysterious types of death that many civilians suffered during the invasion of Vervunhive leading to them nearly being killed by an influential Guilder, Amchanduste Worlin. She then joined the Ghosts and has acted as the conscience of Gol Kolea on more than one occasion, trying to persuade him to tell Criid about him being the real parent of her adopted children. She was in charge of the medical team for the Honour Guard, where she proved her ability to work to keep the Tanith First going.

She was part of the Gereon mission team, and remained on Gereon with Mkvenner, when the rest of the team were extracted.

Allied Personnel

Major Kleopas

Major Kleopas was the commander of the 8th Pardus Armoured detachment which accompanied the Ghosts to the Shrinehold on Hagia; he commanded the armoured assault at Bhavnager with consummate skill, breaking the back of the opposing armour units and allowing the Ghosts to force their way into the city. He was killed at the battle for the Shrinehold when his tank was hit by an incendiary shell. His officers Captain Sirus and Lieutenant Pauk were also killed in the same action, leaving only Captains LeGuin and Woll in positions of authority within the detachment. Their regiment is featured in Double Eagle, the spinoff book to Gaunt's Ghosts.

Lord General Bulledin

Bulledin was in overall command of the Monthax theatre, and Gaunt held him in high regard despite the fact that the Lord General ordered the Inquisition to interrogate Brin Milo, Gaunt's adjudant as a suspected psyker.

Major/Colonel Gilbear

Major Gilbear was General Noches Sturm's aide in Ghostmaker and commanded the Tenth Brigade, the elite of the Royal Volpone 50th storm troopers which was assigned to Inquisitor Lilith in the Monthax campaign. When he met the detachment of Ghosts under Gaunt and Corbec, he got into a fight with Corbec, but they later called a truce. Gilbear led one prong of the assault on the Eldar temple on Monthax, but was nearly shot by one of the Eldar soldiers there when he insulted their leader. His leadership on Monthax earned him a promotion to Colonel, and he held this rank during the events of Necropolis, where he participated in both the assault on the treacherous Salvador Sondar, where he executed him for treachery, and in the assault on enemy warlord Heritor Asphodel's command vehicle, The Spike. After the desertion, treason and death of Noches Sturm, it is assumed that Gilbear retained command of the Royal Volpone 50th, as his colleague Colonel Corday was killed at Vervunhive.

Colonel Zyhte

Colonel Zyhte was the field commander for the Urdeshi 7th Storm-Trooper in the book "The Guns of Tanith" And the capture of the city Cirenholm on Phantine. He is depicted as an ill-tempered man when we are first introduced to him by General Barthol Van Voytz. When he appears in the book after the landings at the 1st dome he is seen as a hot-head, with truly a small amount of patience. He also show no respect to his soldiers under his command and also non to the higher ranks. He seemed to have taken a dislike to Gaunt and his Tanith. When informed by Gaunt of void shields being present in the domes of Cirenholm he initiates a verbal attack on the Ghosts mainly about the relatively young age of the Tanith regiment to his own and the fact his regiment has an honour pennant outside the gates of the Emperor's Palace, which the Ghost being a relatively new founding don't.

Non-Imperial Guard

Inquisitor Lilith Abfequarn

Lilith is an Ordo Hereticus inquisitor in Ghostmaker who was appointed by Lord Militant General Bulledin to investigate and purge psykers from Imperial forces on Monthax. She met Gaunt when she was searching his quarters aboard an orbital command station, and interrogated Brin Milo as a suspected psyker after he had unerringly won a gambling game on the troop decks. However, Milo was cleared and the inquisitor did not encounter the Ghosts again until during the Monthax liberation, where she was investigating a psychic storm that was massacring both sides of the conflict. In the middle of the storm, she found an Eldar temple, which she had been seeking since her mother was killed in an Eldar raid many years previously. When the Eldar Farseer who had conjured the storm died, Lilith used her own powers to transport the remaining eldar back through their Webway and close the warp gate behind them.

Ayatani Zweil

Ayatani Zweil was a wandering priest who joined the Ghosts on Hagia in the events of Honour Guard, when the Ghosts were making their way up to secure the remains of Saint Sabbat. He was found in an abandoned town, Mukret, which had been razed by the Chaos forces. He proceeded to follow the Ghosts up to the temple, where his views on the Imperial religion conflicted with the resident priests.

He has remained with the unit ever since, and has been the moral conscience of Gaunt on more than one occasion. He preaches to the troops before each battle reminding them of how the Emperor is with each one. He even accompanied the Ghosts when they landed on Gereon, and tried to help remove the taint from its lands.

Whilst the Tanith were on Herodor, Zweil suffered a non-fatal stroke when the first incarnation (prior to Sanian) of Saint Sabbat was killed.

Zweil's behavior and unusual habit of changing the subject several times in a conversation make him seem a little distant, if not entirely mad. This has led Ezrah ap Niht to believe that the only reason the Tanith 1st keeps him is for the entertainment of watching an old fool pottering about.

Eszrah ap Niht

Eszrah ap Niht is a son of a Chief of the swamp dwelling Partisans, rebels who live in the Untill swamplands of Gereon. He was given to Gaunt by his father, after the Ghosts saved their village from attack by Chaos Marines during the events of Traitor General. He is commonly referred to as 'Ezra Night', by the Ghosts, a nickname coined (as many of the nicknames in the regiment were) by Larkin. He has taken the duty of protecting Gaunt very seriously and never leaves Gaunt's side. He is armed with his reynbow, a primitive weapon akin to a crossbow which uses magnets to propel quarrels tipped with a highly dangerous venom extracted from swamp moths. Before battle he smears himself with blue woad. Ezra received a gift in the form of Sergeant Varl's prized pair of sun-shades to help him cope with the unaccustomed brightness outside of his native swamps and he has never removed them since. He is an expert at stealth, surpassing even Mkoll, who has an uncanny ability to spot him. His unusual appearance often unnerves people seeing him for the first time.

His loyalty to the task of protecting Gaunt goes so far that when Gaunt is assumed dead in Only in Death he takes the power sword of Heironymo Sondar from Gaunt's office and sets out to the Blood Pact camp to exact a bludtoll. A bludtoll (blood toll) is part of the Nihtgane culture, and consists of killing as many of the foe as possible before the exacter's death. It must be done with the deceased's weapon. As he sets off with the sword in secret, the Ghosts think of it as looting off a dead man. Mkoll follows Eszrah to get the sword back for the regiment, but instead assists Eszrah in avenging Gaunt's "death."

Notable foes and forces of Chaos

Lord General Lugo

General Lugo was the commander-in-chief of the Hagian campaign, where his incompetent command decisions led to the loss of the holy Citadel of the Doctrinopolis and almost the loss of the entire shrineworld. After failing to pin the blame for this disaster on Gaunt, he was demoted to obscurity among the general staff before rising once again when he discovered the reincarnated Saint Sabbat. However, he fled during the assault on Herodor and his status since is unknown.

The Nine

Once it had become clear that Saint Sabbat was reborn on Herodor then the Chaos forces quickly hurled an all out attack at the planet in the hope of killing or capturing the Saint. Along with the Chaos army came a different force, a group of assassins known as 'The Nine' by the psyker Agun Soric (see above): A marksman; three psykers; three lizards; a phantom; a death machine.

Alias	True identity	Information	Fate
"The marksman"	Saul, master sniper of the Blood Pact	Was able to hear the Guard transmissions. Caused panic by killing a high-ranking Herodian PDF officer, Colonel Vibreson ("Drumroll"). Smallest body count of the Nine.	Almost completed his mission: Was killed at the last second by sniper Nessa Bourah.
"Three psykers"	Pater Sin and two child psykers, as well as Lijah Cuu after being imprinted	His mission was not to kill the Saint directly, but instead imprint and dominate someone close to her, who would then finish the job. Caused many Guard soldiers to kill each other.	Sin killed by Colm Corbec, in revenge for his capture on Hagia in Honour Guard. Children killed by MkVenner. Lijah Cuu (the one who was imprinted) killed by Hlaine Larkin
"Three lizards"	Three members of a lizard-race of Loxatl	Killed many Guard soldiers, including Ghost sergeant Mkendrick and his entire squad. Wounded and nearly killed Commissar Victor Hark.	Killed by Commissar Viktor Hark, Elim Rawne, Jessi Banda, and Gol Kolea.
"The phantom"	Skarwael, a Dark Eldar Mandrake	Killed numerous Guard soldiers in extremely gory ways.	Hunted down and killed by Scout-sergeant Mkoll
"The death machine"	Karess, a Chaos Dreadnought with a storm bolter and plasma cannon	Advanced through the sewers, thus avoiding most of the war. Reached the Saint through the balneary pool. Managed a high body count, including Regiment Civitas Beati commander Marshal Timon Biagi and Colonel Kaldenbach of Lord General Lugo's life company, despite missing almost the entire conflict.	Boiled to death in the balneary pool, by the Ghost's flamers. The holes sliced by Gaunt's sword allowed the scalding hot water into his armored hull.

Sources

• Gaunt's Ghosts (Novel Series)
• ¹ First And Only (Novel) by Dan Abnett Part.Two: Fortis Binary Forge World. Capter Seven.