Mephiston
This article is about the Blood Angel; for the Novella by David Annandale, see Mephiston: Lord of Death (Novella). |
Mephiston is the Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels and the only Blood Angel ever to overcome the Black Rage. Before taking the name of Mephiston and the title of Lord of Death, he was originally known as Brother Calistarius.[5]
Contents
History
Brother Calistarius
Originally known as Calistarius, he was a Blood Angel Librarian of some ability and exceptional strength of character.[5]
While holding the rank of Lexicanium, Librarian Calistarius was present during the boarding of the Space Hulk Sin of Damnation as an honourary member of the Blood Angel's 1st Company.[2]
Rebirth
While fighting as part of the relief force for Hades Hive during the Second War for Armageddon campaign, Calistarius became a victim of the Black Rage. After being inducted into the Death Company, he took part in the assault on an Ecclesiarchy building and was one of many trapped inside when the building collapsed during battle. For seven days, Calistarius lay trapped in the rubble, teetering on the edge of death and madness. Somehow, rather than succumbing to the Red Thirst, he managed to conquer it. By sheer strength of will he was able to suppress and hold in check the feelings of rage and the desire for blood, and in doing so he became something more. On the seventh night he burst free of his rocky tomb, reborn as Mephiston, the Lord of Death.[6]
Mephiston's resurrection did not go unwitnessed. By this time Hades lay once more in the hands of the Imperium, but Orks still roamed the ruins. As Mephiston heaved debris aside from his tomb, the sound of tortured stone drew the attention of one band of Orks. Weaponless, and with his armour shredded and mangled, Mephiston must have seemed easy prey, but nothing could have been further from the truth. His gene-seed, dormant these many long years, had awakened and wrought further changes, granting exceptional strength and vigor. Moving with a speed the Orks could not match, Mephiston unleashed a flurry of attacks, every blow pulverizing flesh and shattering bone. Five Orks died in as many seconds, and a dozen more swiftly followed. The greenskins never stood a chance, but they were as stubborn as Mephiston was determined. It was not until the reborn Angel punched clean through the biggest Ork's chest and tore out his heart that the survivors fled. His ruined armour slick with the blood of his foes, Mephiston began the long walk to Imperial lines.[3]
M'kar
In the year 977.M41, the Daemon M'kar trapped Mephiston in the crystal caves of Solon V. He then attempted to lure Mephiston into joining Chaos as a renegade, claiming that Mephiston was already firmly on the path to Daemonhood. Mephiston rejected his captor's claims and throttled the life out of M'kar[3].
Devastation of Baal
Shortly before the Devastation of Baal, Mephiston suffered repeated dreams of the Bloodthirster Ka'Bandha, hated foe of the Blood Angels, appearing to destroy his chapter. Determined to prevent this, Mephiston and his disciples Gaius Rhacelus and Lucius Antros journeyed to the Cruor Mountains on Baal to undertake a ritual to open up a portal to Khorne's realm and kill Ka'Bandha before he could be a threat. The ritual however was ultimately flawed, and a cave-in trapped the Librarians for the rest of the battle.[7]
Wargear
Mephiston is armed with the Force sword Vitarus and a Plasma pistol. He wears Artificer armor, which incorporates his ornate Psychic hood. Overcoming the Red Thirst enabled Mephiston to release his full psychic potential and he is able to call on any number of psychic powers related to the Blood Angels.[1]
Images
Calistarius miniature from Space Hulk (3rd Edition)
Trivia
Mephiston is one of several Warhammer 40,000 characters and places who has given his name to a Games Workshop paint shade, "Mephiston Red."
Related Publications
- Mephiston: Lord of Death (Novella) by David Annandale
- Space Hulk (Novella) by Gav Thorpe
- Sanguis Irae (Short Story) by Gav Thorpe
Sources
- 1: Codex: Blood Angels (4th Edition), pg. 7
- 2: Space Hulk Mission Book (3rd Edition), pg. 45
- 3: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), [Needs Citation]
- 4: Black Library
- 5: Deus Sanguinius (Novel), by James Swallow, Chapter Five
- 6: Codex: Blood Angels (8th Edition), pg. 33
- 7: The Devastation of Baal (Novel) chapters 18-20
Uncited
- Codex: Angels of Death (2nd Edition)
- Codex: Blood Angels (3rd Edition)
- Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pg. 28