Kaspar Marius Todoric Marran
"How many of these pylons have our enemies raised? How do we effect their downfall? Emperor guide me, for I walk in the darkness and, though my faith remains unbroken, I fear I cannot see my path back to the light..."[2]
Kaspar Marius Todoric Marran is the pious Groupmaster of the Indomitus Crusade's Fleet Primus, Battlegroup Kallides.[1]
Before the creation of the Indomitus Crusade, Marran served as the commanding Imperial Navy Admiral of Battlefleet Solar's 1st Terran Battlecruiser Armada. As one of the Battlefleet's rare permanent formations, command of the 1st Terran was a prestigious honor that raised Marran far above his fellow Admirals in influence. This was vital when the reborn Primarch Guilliman, led the remains of his Terran Crusade onto Luna's surface, and clashed with the Thousand Sons. As the battle raged on the moon, Marran's skillful coordination and respected reputation allowed ships from the Imperial Navy, Imperial Fists and Sisters of Silence, to follow his commands. When victory was achieved, Marran's actions earned him the recognition and praise of Guilliman. This in turn led Marran to become a Groupmaster, when the Indomitus Crusade began.[1]
Afterwards, Marran had orders from Guilliman to drive his ships south-west, for a crucial task that only he and the Primarch knew about. On the way there, Marran also dispatched task forces as he saw fit into both Segmentums Tempestus and Ultima. He soon became known, out of ear shot, as the Bull Grox by those who served him, as Marran was immovable once he made a decision. The Groupmaster is also pious and demanded loyalty and an unwavering adherence to the Imperial Creed. His command ship, the Hammerblow, reflects this, as it is home to dozens of fervent preachers, missionaries and confessors. Many of which have served Marran throughout his career. He would come to depend on them, as the Battlegroup moved beyond the light of the Astronomican and were bombarded with cries for help. Marran would not relent from his orders, though, and did not change the Battlegroup's direction, while also shouting down anyone who suggested otherwise. He did permit, however, to both aiding any world's they came across and destroying ships that belonged to the Imperium's enemies. All the sights of destruction meanwhile has stricken Marran, as it has been at a level he has never encountered before. Now more than ever the pious Groupmaster seeks guidance from the Emperor and relies on his faith to sustain him, as Battlegroup Kallides travels further into darkness.[1]
As the war in the Pariah Nexus continued, Imperial forces in the region succumbed to madness and attrition. Amongst the casualties was Marran, who is believed to have fallen to a Necron Lord during the battle for Cherist. However Marran's body was never recovered.[3]
Source
- 1: White Dwarf February 2020, pg. 59 - Indomitus Crusade Heroes
- 2: Psychic Awakening: Pariah, pg. 11
- 3: Crusade: Pariah Nexus, pgs. 26-27
