Askarid Sha
Askarid Sha was a Remembrancer during the Great Crusade, who was renowned for her skills as an illuminator and calligraphist. She often used those skills to aid her long term collaborator, and partner, the author Solomon Voss; by lettering his literary work into scrolls and tomes, that matched the beauty of his words. Askarid would have a direct hand in the creation of the Remembrancers when she illuminated manuscripts written by Voss, who then presented them to the Emperor himself in Zuritz. The manuscripts detailed a petition to create an order of artists to witness, record and reflect the light of truth spread by the Great Crusade and to serve as the Imperium’s memory of its foundation. Their work was considered so beautiful and true by those that saw them, that the Council of Terra ratified the creation of the Order of Remembrancers.[1]
Horus Heresy
Askarid was on the planet Hattusa with Voss and the 817th Expedition Fleet, when Horus began his rebellion against the Emperor. As the Fleet tried to comprehend what had happened, the Edict of Dissolution was passed by the Council of Terra soon afterwards; and the Remembrancers were disbanded and no longer allowed to record the events of the Crusade. Voss was unable to grasp Horus' betrayal and insisted that he needed to see Isstvan V himself; to put to words the scope of the Warmaster's rebellion, so that no one would be able to doubt the truth. Askarid tried for days to discourage Voss from going, knowing that if Horus did betray the Imperium, his life would be placed in danger by going. But when it was obvious Voss could not be persuaded from going, she reluctantly decided to go with him.[1]
Despite being stripped of his title as a Remembrancer, Voss soon used his influence and connections to have a ship travel Isstvan V. Before Askarid and Voss left, he persuaded a group of former Remembrancers to join them, so that the truth would be shouted from the works of as many witnesses as possible. When they reached Isstvan V, the battle was long over and their ship was surrounded by the debris of destroyed warships. As their ship made its way towards the planet they were stopped by a Sons of Horus warship and soon boarded by the Space Marines, who demanded the group leave with them. When one of the former Rememrancers from their group asked why, her arms were torn from their sockets and she was left on the ground to bleed to death. Seeing that they had no choice, the group boarded the Sons of Horus' warship and found themselves grouped with captured Remembrancers; who had been turned over by the Legions, who had sided with Horus.[1]
A short time later they were all brought before the Warmaster himself, aboard his flagship the Vengeful Spirit. Askarid held Voss' hand, as Horus gazed over the frightened group, before pointing at Voss and uttering, "All but that one." With those words the Sons of Horus opened fire on them, killing all but Voss; who was left on his hands and knees surrounded by blood and mutilated bodies.[1]
Source
- 1: The Last Remembrancer (Short Story) by John French, Hammer and Bolter 7, pgs. 25–31
