Editing Lord of Bones

{{/tg/-Heresy-Head}}

Often known as the '''Lord of Bones''' (after his most-famous armour), or sometimes as the ''White Knight'' (for the first suit he piloted), the Scion Abdul al-Sherar was the greatest knight of his era.  Even thousands of years later, he is held up as an icon of knightly virtue and prowess.

'''Life'''

"Abdul al-Sherar" was not the Scion's real name, but merely a description of his origin.  He was born on the Knight World ''Iteru'', to the Scions of the [[Order of Bahri]].  This once-proud brotherhood had become thrall-knights to the mighty Forge World [[Al-Sherar]].  Scions of the Order were fitted out with a series of augmentations to ensure their loyalty to the Mechanicum, leaving them no honour but death in battle.  Abdul escaped this grim existence, though he never spoke of the price paid for his freedom.

History records many Freeblades offering their services to Imperial Forces in the Segmentum Pacificus during the Great Crusade, and surely Abdul al-Sherar was among them.  He first rose to some prominence by fighting under the banner of House Accolon, and Arturia Rex offered Abdul a place in her household.  The bold young scion countered by proposing to court the King of Cattegirn, much to the mirth of House Accolon.  A measured response from Arturia set Abdul to seven years' of exemplary service before he might press his suit for her hand.

In pursuit of this goal, Abdul made a fateful decision at Igwen IV. House Accolon was fighting alongside the warriors of the [[Void Angels|Fifth Legion]] in the Igwen Compliance, and Arturia had ordered a brief respite to refit their armour before pushing on.  Impetuous and eager to win glory, Abdul ignored Arturia's orders and put himself and his subordinates at the disposal of Fabrice Diallo.  The Fifth won their world and Abdul fought gloriously, but House Accolon lost several of its mighty Knight armours and Scions as a result of his impatience - including Abdul's own "White Knight".

Arturia's response was ambivalent. In light of the House's losses as a result of disobedience, she informed Abdul that his suit was over. However, she paid tribute to his skill and courage and made no move to dismiss the warrior from her service. Regardless, Abdul was distraught and begged Arturia for a second chance. Her reply was fateful: she informed the scion that he would have to become the greatest of knights to earn a place at her side. Staggered, Abdul left the ranks of House Accolon.

Without a Knight to pilot, he was just a man alone in the galaxy, and perhaps would have come to an inglorious end were it not for the kindness of Lieutenant Marius d'Orléans. The young Lieutenant offered Abdul the hospitality of his family on [[Ciban IV]], writing him a letter of introduction to present to the d'Orléans household. Although Abdul took up the Lieutenant and spent some months on Ciban IV, he found the world too strange to call home and Arturia's challenge weighed heavy on his heart. Reluctantly, the Freeblade went to Al-Sherar's enclave in Ciban City to beg Oum al Banine, the resident Alim-Vizier for an audience with the council of Kazi on Al-Sherar. There, he would request readmission into the Forge World's service as a Knight of the Mechanicum.

The Kazi of Al-Sherar are coldly logical beings. They took no slight from Abdul's earlier defection. His skills were assessed. Calculations were made. Bringing an escaped thrall into the ranks of the Order of Bahri might encourage others to attempt the same. But a warrior as skilled as Abdul could be useful. The Kazi offered to equip the Freeblade if he would serve them as a test pilot for ten years, then enter the service of their Space Marine allies. Abdul agreed without hesitation. It was far better than he had expected.

The decade under Al-Sherar was bleak. Abdul suffered the pain of many surgeries to augment his body and improve his connection to a Knight Armour. He also endured the difficulties of mastering the wild Machine Spirit of the experimental Knight that would become his identity.  As the pilot of the white armour, "Lord of Bones", Abdul entered the service of the Fifth Legion once more, this time as a direct vassal of Winged Victory.  His skill and the remarkable technology of Al-Sherar swiftly brought the Scion to the attention of the Primarch [[Gaspard Lumey]], who appointed Lord of Bones as his personal bodyguard.

This precaution would prove a sage decision at the Battle of Dolsene, where the Knight fought against [[Hektor Cincinnatus]] long enough for Gaspard Lumey to gather his wits and help drive off the Warmaster. If this victory was a substantial one - Lord of Bones was praised for having preserved the whole of the Fifth Legion - the Scion felt that his honour had been compromised by not being permitted to fight his duel against Hektor to its end. Lumey responded that it was not the place of an individual warrior to seek personal glory, but instead to further a greater cause.

Chastened, the Scion thought long on Lumey's words and whether this episode was but one of a great many failings. Lord of Bones refused to let his spirit sag, but he came to the realisation that his honour had long been marred by pride. He recalled Arturia's challenge to be the greatest of knights, and realised that he would have to embrace humility in order to claim his place at her side. Fortified by this epiphany, Lord of Bones found that his interface with his mighty armour grew ever-closer. The improvement of his prowess was timely, as the Scion would accompany Fifth Legion on the winding road back to Terra, then the ferocious battles of the '''Scouring'''. He cut a bloody swathe through Renegade and Traitor alike, even personally destroying the possessed Titan "Folly of Man" during the grim fighting of the Relief of Mars.

After the Scouring, Lord of Bones discovered that Arturia Rex had been slain on Terra. He took the news with great stoicism, determining that the challenge had undertaken transcended death and continuing in his quest to prove himself, in the firm belief that Arturia's honour was the match of his own. For centuries, he sought neither command nor accolade. Lord of Bones was constantly on the move, seeking out the Imperium's greatest enemies and confronting them without fear or complaint.


'''Rules: Abdul al-Sherar (Elite)'''

''The Lord of Bones, the White Knight''

{|border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
!
!WS
!BS
!S
!Front
!Side
!Rear
!I
!A
!SP
|- align=center
|Lord of Bones
|7
|4
|10
|13
|12
|12
|5
|5
|3
|}

'''Unit Composition'''
* 1 Lord of Bones (Unique)

'''Unit Type'''
* Vehicle (Super-heavy Walker, Character)

'''Void Shields'''
* 2

'''Wargear'''
*Zulfikar

'''Special Rules'''
*Archeotech Reactor
*Pure of Heart, Strong of Arm


'''Archeotech Reactor'''

The Alim of Al-Sherar crafted Lord of Bones around a reactor of ancient design and phenomenal output.  The immense energy at the pilot's disposal is what allows the Knight to mount Titan-class Void Shields.  The Knight may also re-roll one die from any Charge, Run, or Sweeping Advance roll made, but must accept the new result even if it is worse.  When the Knight is destroyed, it always creates a Titanic Explosion.


'''Pure of Heart, Strong of Arm'''

Abdul al-Sherar's legendary prowess in battle was the result of a long, hard road of spiritual purification.  By over-coming his arrogance and prideful ambition, he was able to commune with Lord of Bones' fierce war-spirit in a way that no other could.  This Knight has the ''Adamantium Will'' special rule and a 5+ Invulnerable Save.


'''Zulfikar'''

The mysterious ''Lord of Bones'' Knight suit was armed only with its great sword, '''Zulfikar''' ("Spine-splitter").  Although the Knight lacked for real ranged weapons, the energy field that fortified Zulfikar could flare out in a deadly burst.

{|border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
!
!range
!Strength
!AP
!Type
|-
|(melee)
|n/a
|D
|2
|Melee, Concussive
|-
|(ranged)
|hellstorm
|6
|4
|Assault 1
|}

{{/tg/-Heresy-Knights}}