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Ebon Talon

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Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Chaos relic. For other uses of Ebon Talon, see Ebon Talon (disambiguation).

The Ebon Talon is a powerful[1a] Tzeentch[1b] Chaos relic.[1a]

Description

It is a curved black spike, that gives off a radiant light and is the length of a Space Marine's forearm[1d]. When the Ebon Talon is activated, by holding it and speaking the words of a Chaos ritual, the relic begins to glow more brightly. Its wielders can then unleash the Ebon Talon's destructive might, by burning their foes from the inside out before they turn into dust. However this ability comes at a cost, as those who touch the Talon fall under its sway and become easily enraged. This in turn, makes them eager to use the Ebon Talon's powers on those who anger them, regardless of the targets being their comrades or foes.[1g]

History

Spoiler!
This page contains spoilers for: Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom (Novel)

It once resided on Kyren[1b], which was made entirely of crystals[1c] and laid within the Maelstrom Warp Storm. Tzeentch held the world in his grip[1b] and despite its unnatural makeup, Kyren was home to mutated Tzeentch tribes[1c] that both worshiped and coveted the Ebon Talon. They constantly fought each other around the mountain that held the relic[1b], and sought to reach the cave it rested in. But any who tried to claim it, were killed by the heavily mutated and corrupted guardians that protected the Talon.[1d]

However, despite the Ebon Talon's power and the constant warfare to claim it[1b], the relic seemed to be unheard of outside of Kyren. This changed in early M42, when the high ranking Red Corsair Verngar sought to claim the relic in order to to take command of the Warband. The Lord of Change Kairos Fateweaver informed Verngar of the Ebon Talon and its location, while the Red Corsair held watch over a Blackstone Fortress the Warband had possession of. It had been given to them by the Black Legion's Warlord, Abaddon the Despoiler, but the massive starship remained inactive. Fateweaver explained however, that with the Ebon Talon the Red Corsairs would be able to fully activate the Blackstone Fortress and have full control over it. Verngar would inform his Warband's commander, Huron Blackheart, of this and he offered to find and claim the Ebon Talon to increase the Red Corsair's power. Blackheart suspected, though, that Verngar truly wished to claim the relic for himself, in order to raise his esteem among his fellow Red Corsairs. Verngar already had a sizable following and Blackheart believed that with the Ebon Talon in his possession, Verngar would attempt to take command of the Warband.[1a]

In the end, Blackheart agreed to allow Verngar to search for the relic, but stated he would be going along as well. By doing so, Blackheart sought to claim the Ebon Talon first and put an end to Verngar's threat to his command of the Red Corsairs[1a]. When they reached Kyren, their two forces fought together against the mutated tribes[1c], but it would be Verngar who claimed the Ebon Talon first. He then made his escape with the relic, but the Talon is what made Kyren's existence possible. Its removal caused the world to begin to come apart[1d] and the Red Corsairs escaped before Kyren exploded[1e]. Afterwards, Verngar's standing within the Red Corsairs grew considerably due to recovering the relic and he now sought to further his plans of taking control of the Warband. With a group of his followers behind him, Verngar confronted Blackheart and demanded to be given command of a large fleet, so he could join the Warband's invasion of Chogoris. Blackheart refused, though, stating that despite Verngar's success, he had never taken command of a war zone that stretched over an entire System. Even some of Verngar's followers agreed with this and Huron compromised by giving him another target - the Invaders' former Homeworld Ogrys. It was being rebuilt for the Chapter by the Imperium and the Red Corsairs' attack upon the world, would be an opportunity for Verngar to gain command experience. Blackheart would also join Verngar aboard his warship, the captured Macragge's Honour, to personally oversee his leadership abilities.[1f]

If Verngar was successful and impressed Blackheart, then he would be allowed to join the invasion of Chogoris with the fleet he had demanded. Verngar agreed[1f] and the Red Corsairs' attack on Ogrys initially went well, until the Red Wolves began disobeying Verngar's orders. This enraged, the Red Corsair and Blackheart was surprised, when Verngar ordered the Warpsmith Turazan to bring the Ebon Talon to him. Blackheart had been sure that Verngar could not access the relic's power and that was why he had not returned to activate the Warband's Blackstone Fortress[1g]. But thanks to the aid of Turazan and the Sorcerer Garlon Souleater[1f], Verngar was able to wield the Ebon Talon's destructive fiery might. The angered Red Corsair was then about to unleash this upon the Red Wolves' Wolf of Fenris warship, had Blackheart not intervened due to their valued worth to the Warband. However Verngar refused to relent and Blackheart could sense that the Ebon Talon was strongly influencing Verngar to give into his anger. As they continued to argue, the Wolf of Fenris suddenly attacked Macragge's Honour, as the Red Wolves would not sit ideally by and die without a fight. This distracted Verngar and Blackheart struck his attempted usurper with the Tyrant's Claw's flames, in order to finally end Verngar's threat to his leadership. Verngar quickly recovered, though, and then aimed the Ebon Talon at Blackheart. However his connection to the Hamadrya, allowed Blackheart to easily psychically deflect the relic's power onto Turazan. As the Warpsmith burned alive, Blackheart ended the fight by seriously wounding Verngar and then lopping off his hand that held the Ebon Talon[1g]. With Verngar's threat brought to an end, Blackheart gathered the relic and returned to his flagship, Spectre of Ruin. There, he gave the Ebon Talon to the Red Corsairs' Master of the Forge Armanneus Valthex and ordered him to find a safe way to use the Ebon Talon. While Blackheart would make use of its power, he did not want to fall under the relic's influence as Verngar had.[1h]

Sources