Elsu Eyanosa
| Elsu Eyanosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Title/Honours |
War Chief |
| Discovered (world) | |
| Discovered (period) |
851.M30 (14th) |
| Legion | |
| Role |
Traitor (Tzeentch) |
| Fate |
Daemon Primarch |
This page is part of the Warmasters Triumvirate, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the Warmasters Triumvirate page for more information on the Alternate Universe.
Elsu Eyanosa is the Primarch of the Soaring Host Space Marine Legion.
History[edit]
Early Life[edit]
Elsu Eyanosa, like the rest of his brother primarchs, was scattered throughout the galaxy by the Dark Gods. The pod landed on the planet Thashunke at night. The planet's inhabitants believed the primarch to be a meteor and, the next day, sent a party to find the impact site. Instead of finding the remains of a meteor, they found a child clutching the feathers of one of the planet's birds earning him his name Elsu Eyanosa, meaning "Flying Falcon of Brutal Death". He was taken back to the tribe's settlement, where it was decided he would be raised by the chief. The baby primarch matured quickly, soon bigger than the fully grown adults. His knowledge also grew learnt all he could in a few years. Elsu Eyanosa also developed as a psyker; this area of his development became his greatest. He was made chief on the death of the previous one. As leader Elsu Eyanosa attempted to improve his people and implement new ideas. Elsu Eyanosa ushered in a golden age, civilization advanced, and his tribe experienced a population boom. Elsu Eyanosa led the expansion of his people, moving out and claiming new lands for his tribe and bringing other under its banner. The golden age lasted for a decade until the planet was discovered by the Drukhari.
The Drukhari came in the night to capture those they could to be used to rejuvenate themselves. Elsu Eyanosa waking to the sounds of the attack, rushed out to find an unknown force attacking the settlement, but before he could come to his people's aid, a voice spoke to him. Time seemed to stop for Elsu Eyanosa as the voice said to him again. "Will you change for your people?" It asked, "Yes," Elsu Eyanosa replied, eager to engage the unknown enemy. "Are you willing to change yourself?" It said, "I would change anything," Elsu Eyanosa replied, frustrated with the questioning. "Good" was all the voice said as time seemly resumed. Elsu Eyanosa, not understanding what had just transpired, felt stronger than before as he quickly left the tent and entered the chaos below. Using his now more powerful psychic powers, Elsu Eyanosa entered the fray, and his presence soon came to the attention of the attacking Drukhari. Their Archon, seeing Elsu Eyanosa as the greatest threat, attacks him with his retinue. As Elsu Eyanosa engaged the Archon, the voice returned, guiding his actions, telling him went to strike, block and parry. The Archon, sensing this was a battle he could not win, attempted to disengage from combat and was struck down by Elsu Eyanosa, leaving his body shattered on the pyramid steps. The surviving Drukhari seeing the Archon dead, retreated into the Webway, spreading the tale of the raid on Thashunke.
Arrival of the Emperor[edit]
Upon hearing the tale, the Emperor set off to find Thashunke, believing he may find one of his lost sons. When the Emperor arrived at Thashunke, he descended to find the population waiting for his arrival, as Elsu Eyanosa had felt a psychic presence coming closer with each passing day. Elsu Eyanosa fell to his knees and swore allegiance to the Emperor, who he believed had been the source of the voice which spoke to him. The Emperor then gave him command of the VIIth Legion.
Before Elsu took command, Legion Master Kelsminer had led the eager 65,000 Terran-born soldiers during the Great Crusade, steadily growing the legion as more worlds were brought back into compliance. However, the legion did not distinguish itself during this time due to Kelsminer's uninspired leadership.
When Elsu Eyanosa took command, he brought a new energy to the legion and the culture of his homeworld, which most of the legion fully embraced. The newly dubbed Soaring Host, now 100,000 strong due to the influx of recruits from Thashunke, was entirely reformed.
The legion's recon units and bike squadrons were enlarged at the expense of the armoured sections. Most of the tactical legionaries were also designated as recon, with others as special and heavy weapon squads which became the favoured support units in combat, coming to rely on them rather than heavier weapons. Some of these new recon units would also be equipped with lighter scout armour.
Elsu Eyanosa took a personal interest in the assault units of the legion, which were likewise reorganized and enlarged. All marines in the legion, were issued jump packs to allow mass airborne drops onto targets. The terminator formations and dreadnaughts within the legion were equipped with specialized enlarged jump packs, allowing for enhanced mobility.
Kelsminer, now second in command, and the old guard did not embrace the culture of Thashunke and would never accept his primarchs leadership style and tactics.
The Great Crusade[edit]
It was some time after first meeting his father that Elsu realized that it was not the Emperor's voice which guided him back on Thashunke. The realization took Elsu by surprise. Many would hear him muttering to himself about the voice for a long period. When this became general knowledge to the Emperor and his sons, those scornful and distrusting of Elsu due to his mutations continued with renewed energy. Unknown to anyone, though, the mutations had started to spread since that day. With this, the Soaring Host campaigned alone away from other legions, and Elsu only kept in contact with a few of his brothers.
During this time, Elsu would begin to hear the voice again. At the start, it was just a whisper, but as time past, the voice grew louder as Elsu began interacting with it. By the Council of Nikaea, Elsu conversed with it daily, and it would become his greatest confidant apart from Marduk. Elsu was dealt a blow when his friendship with Kincaid was broken. Reeling from the events at Nikaea, Elsu continues to campaign. After continuing to use his psychic powers and hearing Kelsminer's latest criticisms and schemes, Elsu finally snapped. Returning to his chambers, Elsu contemplates what has happened. While conversing with the voice, Elsu finally asks who he is. The voice reveals himself to be Tzeentch. Realizing that Tzeentch had been his patron since the Dark Eldar attack on Thashunke, he offers tribute to Tzeentch willingly. Tzeentch gifts Elsu dark knowledge and power but also mutates him further, now growing true wings from his back.
With his newfound power, Elsu meets with his senior officers, who were all easily brought on their side after seeing the boons Tzeentch had granted Elsu. They began to plot against Kelsminer and the Loyalist old guard, turning the legion slowly to Tzeentch, including Omid Latvar, a member of the Old guard who was bitter about the Emperor's decision at Nikaea. With the Loyalists' plans revealed to him, Elsu and his men moved on the loyalists, and in one fell swoop, they were wiped out. Galpan Kelsminer was the first kill Elsu dedicated to Tzeentch, damning his soul to Chaos.
Brotherwar[edit]
Proclaimed renegades by the Imperium at this point, the Chosen of Hecate found themselves quickly running out of hiding places, and Lambach Kropor again decided to place faith in another brother. Lambach led his battered fleet to the remote Thashunke system, the base of operations for the Soaring Host and where Elsu called home.
Lambach was one of the few brothers Elsu had a strong bond with. Nearly every other Primarch, save Marduk, treated Elsu and his legion as an abomination. Lambach's calm, friendly demeanour and acceptance of Elsu's mutations had always penetrated the haze of unbridled fury surrounding Elsu Eyanosa. Unknown to Lambach, his mutant brother had already thrown in his lot with Chaos several years beforehand.
Lambach and the Chosen of Hecate remained in hiding for four years, licking their wounds. With Elsu's help, Lambach and his legion came to terms with their new patrons' gifts, learning how to harness his newfound power. Eventually, Warmaster Marduk and the Leviathan Host would arrive on Thashunke.
Marduk would tell the brothers of his plan of recruiting several more legions, overthrowing the other Warmasters and putting an end to the Emperor. Lambach and Elsu saw they had no option but to join Marduk's cause. While Marduk and Elsu would participate in the Summit of New Hope to set Marduk's master plan into motion. Lambach, considered a renegade, could not attend; but he assured Marduk that he could convert Gyahdred and the Dusk Phantoms.
The Assassination of Malcador the Sigillite by Elsu Eyanosa at the Summit of New Hope would mark the start of the Brotherwar and the following millennia of war. The assassin's identity was unknown to those legions that sided with Je'She of the Watch and Jon-Frederic Aristide.