Alexandri of Rosskar

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

Alexandri of Rosskar
Title/Honours	King of Rosskar [Surrendered], the Unifying Dictator, Greatfather Rosskar.
Discovered (world)	Rosskar
Discovered (period)	c.855.M30
Legion	Fifteenth
Great Crusade Command	38th Expedition Fleet
Heraldry/Sigil	100px
Distinguishing Traits	Cautious, Pragmatic
Flaws	Callous, Ambitious
Horus Heresy role	Loyal. His Legion stood in defense of Terra and Segmentum Solar
Disposition	Assassinated

A King is a man who assumes responsibility. He says "I was beaten", he does not say "My men were beaten".

(Sayings of Rosskar, Volume IV, 'Alexandri's Words')

Alexandri of Rosskar was the Primarch of the Fifteenth Legion; the Silver Cataphracts, known for their dour attitudes and utter lack of pride. The tactics of Alexandri were highly controversial, but his was the hand that allowed Terra to be saved by the Void Angels and the Steel Marshals. His potential to seize power in the shattered Imperium led to his assassination by the upper echelons of his Legion and by his own brother, Gaspard Lumey.

History

Youth

Looking back I now know history is much more the product of mayhem than of conspiracy. I never intended to become King, yet I am.

(Sayings of Rosskar IV, pg. 14)

Alexandri was found and rescued in the wilderness of Rosskar's thick, alien forests by the Frontiersmen. The Frontiersmen keep the rabid foliage and overgrown beasts at bay to allow civilization to survive on Rosskar. Alexandri grew faster than all of his peers, being adopted by one of the social elite, the Vityasz. Absorbing all information available to him, he showed great promise as a military commander. Alexandri began to put down peasant revolt after peasant revolt upon the surface of Rosskar. He was capable of doing this by creating a standing army of armed peasants and recruited Frontiersmen. Eventually Alexandri would become the Royal General, one of the most honorable and powerful positions second only to the King himself.

Rule on Rosskar was divided amongst three continents, each with their own King. Under Alexandri's leadership, all of Rosskar would be united. This conquest was driven out of his sense of duty to his liege. However, the King of Rosskar feared for his life when Alexandri kept making victory after victory. When a military assassination failed that was sponsored by the King, nothing could stop the Primarch from placing his former lord's head on a pike. With no other viable candidate in his mind for the crown, Alexandri adopted it and became the monarch of the frozen world.

Great Crusade

I am asked, how could you do this? What drove you to surrender so readily, so willingly, when you had fought so hard before? These people are bold to question me like this, but heed my wisdom when I say I held no sadness over the loss of my Kingship.

A crown is only a hat that let's the snow in.

(Quote dated at 996.M30, after being questioned by his brother Primarch Inferox)

At first the Emperor's coming was met with glee and celebration. Alexandri himself was glad that there was a man he could call an equal, someone to ease the weight of ruling off his shoulders. He had no idea what the Emperor's actual position was, more akin to Alexandri's youthful days as a unifying warlord. This made Alexandri make the fateful remark that he'd be happy being nothing more than a Regent, managing the Imperium in the Emperor's Name, not his own. This brought a smile to his Father's face. A knowing smile.

This happiness did not last for long however. Upon learning of the Covens existence, the Emperor immediately acted without consulting his son in any capacity. Time was short, the decision had to be made without hesitation. The Custodes were quick to expunge every trace of the societies from Rosskar. When it turned out that some were being hidden from the Emperor by the Secret Police, more purges continued this time in the hearts of Rosskar's cities. A great many deaths were caused as the Silent Sisters joined the fray, to null the effect of the witches' sorceries.

Alexandri would never forgive his Father for this act, but he understood the necessity of accepting it. Rising up to oppose him was pointless, he was a being above him. Disappoint and failure were two things strong in Alexandri's mind. This time would be no different.

I cast my hand out, and the greatest warriors ever to cross the void leap to obey. But this is not true power. No, the leadership my father gives us all is our real strength.

Never once did the Silver Cataphracts refuse the call to arms when summoned. Due to the massive population of Rosskar the Legion's ranks swelled to the brim, and then spilled over. It was never clear if the Alexandri even once told the truth of the actual size of his Legion. To further add to this blatant growth of Astartes numbers, millions of regular human soldiers were introduced as part of the Legion as the Rosskar Strelky. The Strelky served as a valuable source of support during the Crusades, fighting as an auxiliary force to the Cataphracts main operations.

When not helping the Emperor or his fellow Primarchs however, Alexandri was eager to expand the realms of the Imperium on his own. Using envoys and trusted functionaries, a small portion of his Legion would act in the Emperor's name but obviously make sure certain worlds favored Rosskar as their destination of tithe payment. He searched for worlds either with unrealized industrial potential or low population, high resource worlds. A huge warmachine was forged form the tiny fiefdom he claimed to help fund his ever expanding Legion and auxiliary force. When rumors of a rising amount of Librarians in the Cataphracts came to light, along with reports of witches serving in the auxiliary, it became clear that Alexandri had great ambitions that might upset the balance of order in the Imperium. Still, even if Alexandri broke regulations, he was always loyal to humanity, understanding the Imperium's way was the best way. The Imperial Truth just needed, bending.

His actions created great controversy as sometimes Alexandri would made ridiculous deals to secure peaceful surrender, and others he would be mercilessly swift in destroying whole planets. At a glance his decisions might be decided upon whim, but in fact it was all carefully calculated in his mind. In his mind, all that mattered was occupying planets with the least amount of loss. That is, overall loss. If a planet needed to be taken by brute force, it would be. If a planet could be talked down and negotiated with, it would. Alexandri's liberal approach to dealing with Xenos made some question his methods even more. But a few demonstrations of his disregard for alien life made it clear to all this was not another Aubrey the Grey.

Even though the loyalty of Alexandri was at times questioned, the Emperor knew the nature of his son from the few meetings they had. He was loyal, for he understood a civil war would bring too much needless ruin. And that the Emperor was the right being to unite humanity, just as Alexandri was the right man to unite Rosskar.

The Heresy

Woe to Mankind this day. Pity those who have died on Terra, for it was all in vain. The enemy has achieved the ultimate victory. The sacrifices we made merely ensured they could not enjoy it.

(Attributed to Alexandri after the Emperor's Enthronement.)

Post-Heresy

The Silver Cataphracts would have followed Alexandri into hell, not out of admiration, but out of the logic that Alexandri would only go into hell only if it was the best option. Now? But now he was being driven by dreams and fancies, not by reality. An attempt to seize power would only bring further death. With the blessing of Gaspard Lumey, one of the last remaining Primarchs, First Captain Sergei eliminated Alexandri subtly. The assassination was made to look as if the age old Rosskan rebels had finally got him. After living through the trials of his own world's conquest, and everything in between during to the end of the Scouring, Alexandri of Rosskar died from a coward's bullet.

Unremembered, unnoticed the Primarch went. A short golden age after the Scouring came, when the Traitor Legions were too busy tearing themselves apart and the numerous threats to arrive later had not yet come. No one wanted to press for details, fearing what might come if they looked for them. Gaspard, even if he did not desire it, had brought peace through his sole rule.

Personality

Appearance

Regal is the best word to describe Alexandri. A huge, flowing brown beard that goes down the front of Alexandri's power armour even in combat. Rosskar's unique sun and the planet's own society put an immense stress on the Primarch. He has aged whereas his own brothers have not. Dark circles have burrowed in deep into his eye sockets and many lines have formed on his face. Even specks of grey and white have touched his beard. All this only adds to his appearance as the iron-fisted ruler of Rosskar. He stands slightly taller than most other Primarchs, but not by much. His Terminator plate is adorned with silver-livery and symbols of the many Vityaz Houses crushed by his hand. Stylistic images of Rosskan Hounds form on the front of his armor, the emblem of his Legion and his own personal crest.