View source for Gregor Eisenhorn

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[[Image:youngEisenhorn.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Inquisitor Eisenhorn before the end of the Pontius affair]]
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|quote = '''''All my life I have had a reputation for being cold, unfeeling. Some have called me heartless, ruthless, even cruel. I am not. I am not beyond emotional response or compassion. But I possess - and my masters count this as perhaps my paramount virtue - a singular force of will. Throughout my career it has served me well to draw on this facility and steel myself, unflinching, at all that this wretched galaxy can throw at me. To feel pain or fear or grief is to allow myself a luxury I cannot afford.'''''
|source=''[[Gregor Eisenhorn]], 240.[[M41]]{{Fn|1b}}
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[[Image:youngEisenhorn2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Young Inquisitor Eisenhorn]]
'''Gregor Eisenhorn''' was a renowned [[Inquisitor]] of the [[Ordo Xenos]], active during the third and fourth centuries of [[M41]].

Initially a [[Puritan]] of the [[Amalathian]] faction{{Fn|1b}}, Eisenhorn's ideology would alter over the course of his career so dramatically towards [[Radical]] [[Xanthism]] that other members of the [[Inquisition]] would consider him possibly [[heretical]]. Indeed, Eisenhorn has officially been considered a rogue agent at least twice in his Inquisitorial career, only to be proved righteous both times.{{Fn|3x}}{{Fn|4x}}

==History==
===Early Career===
Born in 198.[[M41]]{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|1b}}, on [[DeKere's World]]{{Fn|1h}}, Gregor Eisenhorn became a pupil of [[Inquisitor]] [[Hapshant]] at a young age. He studied alongside fellow trainee [[Titus Endor]] and was elevated to the rank of Inquisitor in 222.M41, aged 24{{Fn|1b}}{{Fn|6}}. His first successful persecution was that of the [[heretic]] [[Lemete Syre]].{{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|3b}}{{Fn|6}}

Carving out a stable and competent career, Eisenhorn eventually found himself being drawn into events that would change the course of his life in the year 240.M41.{{Fn|1a}} During this year, Eisenhorn successfully tracked down and killed the mass-murderer [[Murdin Eyclone]] on [[Hubris]]{{Fn|1c}}, an investigation that is notable not only for bringing [[Godwyn Fischig]]{{Fn|1d}} and [[Alizebeth Bequin]]{{Fn|1e}} into his retinue, but also for setting him on the route of both [[Pontius Glaw]] and the [[Necroteuch]].{{Fn|1f}}

===The Necroteuch Affair===
Following leads from the Eyclone investigation, Eisenhorn became tangled up with a heretical cabal on the world of [[Gudrun]]{{Fn|1g}}, and in fact was briefly captured and tortured by one of their members, [[Gorgone Locke]]{{Fn|1h}}. The cabal was eventually driven off Gudrun by a full Inquisitorial purge led by Inquisitor [[Commodus Voke]].{{Fn|1i}}{{Fn|1j}}

Eisenhorn was able to recover a device known as "the Pontius" from the cabal, and it later transpired that this device held the encoded brain-engrams of the long-dead infamous [[heretic]] [[Pontius Glaw]]; one of the cabal's schemes had involved arranging his resurrection.{{Fn|1k}} Eisenhorn held Pontius Glaw captive and interrogated him regularly, before finally choosing to have the Pontius device incarcerated by [[Magos]] [[Bure]] of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]]. This decision would have a profound effect on Eisenhorn's future.{{Fn|3x}}

Following up further leads from the purge of the cabal led Eisenhorn into one of his most famous investigations; the affair of the Necroteuch - a tome of chaotic knowledge. Eisenhorn tracked the survivors of the cabal to a colony world inhabited by the [[xenos]] [[Saruthi]].

The Saruthi had come into the possession of a copy of the Necroteuch, and had translated it into their own language, creating two versions of this powerful chaotic tome and a translating tool. The human Necroteuch tome was quickly found and destroyed by Eisenhorn himself. Some radical Inquisitors deemed this a heretical act, and damned Eisenhorn for it. However, the majority of the local Inquisitorial conclave supported  Eisenhorn's decision to burn the tome, outvoting the radicals.{{Fn|1}}

Eisenhorn was therefore spared from censure and was in fact instrumental in planning a raid on the Saruthi homeworld during which the remaining items were destroyed. It was during this attack that Eisenhorn also first met [[Cherubael]], a powerful [[daemonhost]] who would plague Eisenhorn and the [[Imperium]] in later endeavours.{{Fn|1}}

===Sameter===
The following year, 241.M41, Eisenhorn investigated apparent ritual murders on the world of [[Sameter]], at first believing the killings to be the work of some chaotic cult. Soon, however, it was revealed that the culprits were ex-soldiers of the [[Imperial Guard]]. These former soldiers of the [[Sameter 9th Infantry]] had been driven mad by the horrors they had faced in war, and were ritually killing regular citizens. Backed up by the local [[Adeptus Arbites]], Eisenhorn managed to corner and eliminate the fanatics in an abandoned and decaying building. During the resultant firefight Eisenhorn lost his left hand to an experienced former-sharpshooter. He was offered a prosthetic but declined, making do with a fused stump until he could have a vat-grown hand grafted on two years later.{{Fn|2}}

=== Quixos ===
In 312.M41, Eisenhorn's best friend, [[Midas Betancore]] was killed by the heretic [[Fayde Thuring]] during an investigation. Thuring escaped, and Eisenhorn promised to keep a watchful eye on Midas' infant daughter, [[Medea Betancore|Medea]]. Years later, when she came of age, she would follow the path of her father and join the retinue of Inquisitor Eisenhorn as his pilot.{{Fn|3}}
[[Image:oldEisenhorn.jpg|right|thumb|Inquisitor Eisenhorn after the Pontius affair]]

26 years later, in 338.M41, Eisenhorn began the investigation that he would become most known for; the elimination of the heretic Inquisitor [[Quixos]]. The investigation took place in the aftermath of the disaster of the [[Thracian Primaris]] Triumph (where Eisenhorn's Interrogator, [[Gideon Ravenor]], was horrifically injured), an atrocity that appeared to have been engineered to free several [[The Assignment|alpha-plus class]] rogue [[psykers]].{{Fn|3}}

Eisenhorn's investigation took him to the world of Eechan, where, posing as [[mutants]], he and his team discovered that there was Inquisitorial collusion in the scheme that freed the psykers. Inquisitor [[Lyko]] was discovered in the company of the daemonhost, Cherubael. Taken aback by the reappearance of Cherubael, Eisenhorn focused his investigations upon the creature. This led him to [[Cadia]], where he discovered another daemonhost, [[Prophaniti]], and ties between these daemonhosts and the missing radical Inquisitor Quixos. However, Eisenhorn's investigation was sidelined for some time by his arrest by Inquisitor [[Osma]] for consorting with [[daemons]]. Escaping, he was declared outcast and forced to operate as a rogue for the remainder of the investigation. Eisenhorn sojurned with his associate Magos Bure on the world of [[Cinchare]] for some time, where he conferred with his prisoner, Pontius Glaw. During this period he defeated a Chaos cult that existed on the world and gained master-crafted [[Force Weapons]].{{Fn|3}}

Eisenhorn next assembled a small strike group of three other Inquisitors, and acting in concert with them tracked down and confronted Quixos. Eisenhorn himself was the one who killed Quixos, recovered his heretical book, the Malus Codicium, and banished both Prophaniti and Cherubael. He was cleared of all charges against him at the conclusion of the investigation.{{Fn|3}}

In 345.M41, Eisenhorn succeeded in secretly summoning the daemon Cherubael and trapping him for interrogation and study.{{Cite This}} In 355.M41 he dealt with a minor warp incursion on Gudrun.{{Cite This}}

===Heretic===
It was in the year 386.M41 that Eisenhorn was able to avenge the death of Midas Betancore, but it came at considerable cost. Killing the heretic Fayde Thuring cost him the lives of several associates, placed Bequin into a coma, resulted in the destruction of his gun-cutter and forced him to use Cherubael as an ally.{{Fn|4}}

Shortly afterwards Eisenhorn was the victim of a carefully planned attack orchestrated by Pontius Glaw, who had escaped captivity and decided to punish and torment his captors. Almost every facet of Eisenhorn's life was brought crashing down around him, including his career, as he was once again declared an outcast by Inquisitors Osma and [[Heldane]]. His organisation shattered, his own body broken and much of his retinue dead, Eisenhorn was eventually able to call on the aid of his once-pupil, Gideon Ravenor, who was now a full Inquisitor. With Ravenor's assistance, Eisenhorn was able to track Pontius down and eliminate him for good. However, the Pontius affair did more than deplete Eisenhorn's physical resources, it also finally broke down his resistance to employing radical methods - he began to travel with Cherubael as his constant companion.{{Fn|4}}

Eisenhorn largely dropped out of sight after the Pontius affair, despite his outcast status apparently being rescinded once again. He has reappeared for only brief moments in the years following, to recruit new retainers or confer with past associates, such as warning Gideon Ravenor about the intentions of the cult known as the [[Divine Fratery]].{{Fn|5}} Later members of the cult discuss Eisenhorn and it is suggested that he may have been killed fighting their followers, as he was inside a building that they bombed, and Eisenhorn subsequently vanished from their foresight. The truth of this can be disputed.{{Fn|5}}

==Appearance and Abilities==
[[Image:Gregor_Eisenhorn.jpg|right|thumb|Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn]]
A [[psyker]], Eisenhorn possesses considerable natural willpower and resolve, which combined with his pool of psychic power, makes him a potent telepath. He normally channels his psychic talent through his voice, compelling people to follow his instructions. He can focus this talent upon distinct individuals in a crowd, or upon many people at once.{{Cite This}}

The most obvious physical attribute of Inquisitor Eisenhorn is his crude augmentic assist system, which can be seen projecting from the back of his head and encasing his lower limbs. This implantion was done in a hurry near the end of the Pontius affair and appeared to both be permanent and sub-par. The augmetic rig allows him reasonable movement, but he has taken to using a swordstick to aid balance. Several centuries old, Eisenhorn only looks roughly middle-aged to the casual observer; his aging process has been retarded by Inquisitorial [[juvenat]] treatments.{{Cite This}}

The torture inflicted by Gorgone Locke resulted in the permanent destruction of many of the nerves in Eisenhorn's face. As a result, he has limited facial expressions and movement and notably can no longer smile - though he conceded to himself that this was no great change.{{Fn|1}}

Clean-shaven and dark-haired, Eisenhorn was forced to permanently shave his head when accepting his augmetic system. He normally wears sober suits of dark greys or blacks under long blue or black high-collared coats.{{Cite This}}

Underneath the coat could once be found his sword, sheathed at his hip. It is now fashioned into a sword-stick, with the scabbard forming a walking-cane. Also under his coat is the chest-rig for his sidearm, normally holstered under his left shoulder. His Inquisitorial rosette is normally placed in an inside pocket. While Eisenhorn typically plays down his Inquisitorial station, he occasionally chooses to proudly display the full majesty of his office. In such circumstances he dresses more ornately and colourfully, if still in the same basic pattern of suit and long coat. His Inquisitorial rosette is then pinned to the front of his jacket, alongside other symbols and distinctions he is eligible to wear.{{Cite This}}

Eisenhorn and his retinue also employed their own personal form of coded language, named '''Glossia'''. The basic format was created by Eisenhorn when he was 32 years of age, but it grew organically with use over the years, with several of his employees contributing to its form.{{Fn|1}}

===Armaments===
In the early part of his career, Eisenhorn carried a [[power sword]] of unusual design; instead of having a conventional metal blade as the focus of its energy-field, the blade was itself made of pure energy. This antique, graceful and deadly blade had been blessed by the [[Provost of Inx]].

In contrast to this priceless weapon, his standard sidearm during most of the same period was a cheap [[Imperial Navy|Naval]]-pattern [[Scipio]] [[stub-pistol]] that had been crudely gang-marked by [[Lores Vibben]], an ex-ganger employed by Eisenhorn as his bodyguard and personal aide. The grips had been replaced with ivory, upon which was etched an entwined skull and rose; droplets of blood from the rose thorns were represented by inlaid carmine gems.{{Fn|1}}

Eisenhorn was initially rather embarrassed by this customisation to his pistol, but later realised that he was being honoured by Vibben's marking of his weapon in her gang-colours. When Vibben was killed by agents of Murdin Eyclone, Eisenhorn made sure to use the pistol she had altered to execute Eyclone. It was then buried with her.{{Fn|1}}

[[Image:EisenhornMiniature.jpg|right|thumb|Inquisitor Eisenhorn]]

Eisenhorn's next signature weapon was a heavily customised [[Bolt Pistol]] given to him by a [[Librarian]] of the [[Deathwatch]]. Made of green-hued chased steel, it was hand-crafted to be of compact dimensions and given an unusual feature of the magazine housing being in the handgrip. It was lost during the Quixos investigation and never replaced with another particular favourite handgun.{{Cite This}}

His power-sword destroyed in battle with Cherubael, Eisenhorn had Magos Bure craft him two powerful force weapons; a force staff topped by a powerful psychic lodestone carved to resemble Eisenhorn's own skull and a force sword based on [[Barbarisater]], a blade once carried by [[Arianhrod Esw Sweydyr]], one of his deceased retainers. A very old weapon, the blade had been folded over 900 times and enhanced by potent pentagrammatic wards. Originally a long, double-handed saber-like weapon, Barbarisater was straightened and reforged into a single-handed sword after it was broken in battle against Quixos. His force-staff is slung across his back when not in use.{{Cite This}}

The most powerful conventional weapon in his arsenal was his gun-cutter, a personal spacecraft capable of atmospheric flight, if not independent warp-travel. Large enough to contain cabins and crew-quarters for a half-dozen people as well as a sizable cargo deck, the cutter was fast, agile and well-armed with several [[autocannon]] turrets.{{Cite This}}

==Retinue==
[[Image:EisenhornMini.jpg|thumb|right|220px|2018 Eisenhorn miniature]]
Inquisitor Eisenhorn created a considerable organisation during the first part of his career, starting out with a bare handful of hired hands and eventually employing dozens of retainers, including the [[Distaff]], a group of psychic [[Blanks]]. This world-spanning organisation was destroyed by the machinations of Pontius Glaw, who also ensured the deaths of most of Eisenhorn's retinue. With Eisenhorn missing at the end of the Pontius case, his surviving followers became part of the retinue of Inquisitor Ravenor. Eisenhorn largely avoided acquiring servants other than Cherubael for some time, but eventually began assembling a small retinue around himself once more. His notable employees and associates are listed below:

*[[Uber Aemos]] ([[Savant]])
*[[Alizebeth Bequin]] ([[Untouchable]])
*[[Medea Betancore]] (Pilot){{Cite this}}
*[[Midas Betancore]] (Pilot)
*[[Bure]] ([[Tech Priest]])
*[[Cherubael]] ([[Daemonhost]])
*[[Lucius Devlan|Lucius 'Slick' Devlan]] (Gunfighter)
*[[Severina and Sevora Devout]] ([[Death Cult|Death Cultists]])
*[[Eemanda]]
*[[Godwyn Fischig]] ([[Adeptus Arbite]])
*[[Nathun Inshabel]] ([[Interrogator]]){{Cite this}}
*[[Tobias Maxilla]] (Merchant Captain)
*[[Harlon Nayl]] (Bounty-Hunter)
*[[Quovandius]] (Warrior)
*[[Gideon Ravenor]] ([[Interrogator]])
*[[Arianhrod Esw Sweydyr]] (Swordswoman)
*[[Kara Swole]] (Warrior)
*[[Lores Vibben]] (Bodyguard){{Cite this}}

==Related Materials==
*[[The Magos (Novel)]]

==Sources==
{{Cite}}
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Xenos (Novel)]] — [[Eisenhorn (Omnibus)]] by [[Dan Abnett]],{{Cite this}}
**{{Endn|1a}}: Chapter One, pg. 7
**{{Endn|1b}}: Chapter One, pgs. 19–22
**{{Endn|1c}}: Chapter Two, pg. 28
**{{Endn|1d}}: Chapter Three, pg. 40
**{{Endn|1e}}: Chapter Four, pgs. 51–52
**{{Endn|1f}}: Chapter Five, pgs. 57–58
**{{Endn|1g}}: Chapter Ten, pgs. 99–108
**{{Endn|1h}}: Chapter Eleven, pgs. 110–113
**{{Endn|1i}}: Chapter Eleven, pgs. 121–123
**{{Endn|1j}}: Chapter Twelve, pgs. 124–126
**{{Endn|1k}}: Chapter Sixteen, pgs. 163–166
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Missing in Action (Short Story)]] by '''Dan Abnett'''
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Malleus (Novel)]] by '''Dan Abnett''',{{Cite this}}
**{{Endn|3a}}: Chapter One, pg. 274
**{{Endn|3x}}: {{Cite This}}
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Hereticus (Novel)]] by '''Dan Abnett''',{{Cite this}}
**{{Endn|4x}}: {{Cite This}}
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Thorn Wishes Talon (Short Story)]] by '''Dan Abnett'''
*{{Endn|6}}: [[The Strange Demise of Titus Endor (Short Story)]] by '''Dan Abnett'''

===Uncited===
{{Uncited}}
*[[Inquisitor Annual 2004]]
*[[Inquisitor Rulebook]]
*[[The Inquisition (Background Book)]]

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[[Category:Characters (Human Psykers)]]
[[Category:Characters (Ordo Xenos)]]
[[Category:Eisenhorn (Novel Series)]]
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