Rogerius Merrill

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.

Rogerius Merrill
Title/Honours	The Hunter
Discovered (world)	Profi Tiroedd
Discovered (period)	870.M30
Legion	XX
Heraldry/Sigil
Unique Weapon	The Imperial Talon
Distinguishing Traits	austere, quiet, alert
Flaws	psychopathic, anti-social
Fate	Daemon Prince
Dominion	Yr Helfa Annherfynol

"The best a man could expect from Rogerius Merrill was a polite smile - and a knife in the back."

- Gaspard Lumey, private correspondence.

History

Youth

The Primarch's pod landed on the largest crumbling hive of the world Profi Tiroedd. There he was found and adopted by a local tribe which titled itself Merrill. He grew and learned with the people there, becoming the tribe's most promising child. At the age of fifteen a group of men from surrounding tribes came with a message to the Merrill. Their seers and medicine women had consulted the spirits and believed that if this child was allowed to live, he would doom all within the "Hollow Mountain," as it was known by the planetary natives. The tribe rejected the offer and were informed that war would be the outcome. The Merrill tribe were skilled warriors and hunters, but were few in number and faced the entirety of the tribes living within the ancient hive. They fought a running battle for six months, but ultimately lost. Every man, woman, and child of the Merrill were killed save the young Primarch.

In the following months, the Primarch was alone. With no one left to protect, he went on the offensive. He was new to warfare, but he was excellent at hunting. So he singled out his targets and eliminated them one by one while they slept in their tents. He moved from tribe to tribe, killing several in a night before moving on. Most fled from the mountain, as he would always come and he would always find ways to slip through their traps and defenses. Some tried to fight, but found themselves fighting shadows. Their enemy always eluded them. In the end, Merrill killed all who fought and didn't chase those who left the hive. As the tribes ran, they spread stories of his wrath. These stories became more inflated with each retelling. Eventually, the hive was abandoned by all save the Primarch himself over fear of the demon who haunted it.

During this time, another group of tribes united into a single council, calling themselves the Sikundus. They sought to unify the tribes in their own hive to ensure the safety and longevity of those who lived there. This led to a long war with others within their hive. As the war came to an end, their elder councils had been replaced by warriors. Warriors who now saw the threat of the tribes outside their own living areas. And so they raised their spears again to those tribes surrounding the hive. With each campaign coming to a close, they saw reason to invade their new neighbors and bring their lands and people into their own. It was a long, slow war of expansion.

Nearly twenty years after the last of the tribesmen had left the Hollow Mountain, a group of refugees from the Sikundus campaigns found their way inside. They reasoned it would be somewhat safe from their enemies, as the rumors of the demon would keep other tribesmen at bay. While exploring the ruins, they came across the Primarch. After some discussion he reluctantly agreed to allow them to stay in the old Merrill grounds for a few months until they had collected the supplies to move on. Merrill quickly realized that these men were not quick nor stealthy enough to survive long within the Mountain, and taught them what he knew. As days turned into months, they became better hunters and developed their area more. As months turned into years, more refugees arrived with similar ideas. As years turned to decades, the refugees became a tribe of their own. Though they rarely interacted with the Primarch, every season they left a gift of food in thanks for his aid.

Eventually, news of the new tribe reached the Sikundus. They sent diplomats to the new tribe within the mountain. Fearing their eventual battle but refusing to surrender, the people went to Merrill. He was very angry with them for bringing the attraction of new and powerful tribes. But he ultimately relented and decided to assist them when confronted by the questioning of a young boy almost his own age when his own tribe died. For the next year they fought against the Sikundus, never relenting, and never allowing them to build a foothold in the mountain.

That was when the Emperor arrived and began peace talks to bring the Sikundus and all of Profi Tiroedd under Imperial Authority. During the talks, the Primarch and his men snuck into camp and killed the entirety of the Sikundus leadership and burning their camp to the ground. Some men of the Imperial Army witnessed the Primarch in the attack and the news reached the Emperor's ears. Without warning he went into the hive with neither armour nor weapons. After five days, he found his quarry. The Primarch wished for neither glory nor conquest. He wished to hunt. Over the next four days, the Emperor lived and hunted with his son. On the fifth, he told him to look at the tribe. They were successful, not because of glory or conquest, but because of this Primarch's leadership. He trained and taught them what they needed to defeat an enemy at impossible odds. He told the Primarch of His designs and plans, and that the Primarch would be left to his own devices. That he would hunt the most dangerous game in the galaxy. And with careful contemplation, the Primarch relented. And so both Emperor and Primarch left the planet, the Primarch finally being named. Rogerius after a great warrior and hunter of old Terra and Merrill after his tribe.

The Great Crusade

Merrill decided to keep the original title of the chapter, as he believed anything else would be insulting to the men that had served in the Legion before his discovery. He disliked having his forces in direct confrontation with the enemy, and was best suited for long range asymmetrical warfare. With that in mind, he requested for, and was approved of, a fleet of Imperial Army soldiers. He would use his regular soldiers to bolster their fighting capabilities and dispense advice to their command structure, relieving him of having to plan and read large-scale engagements, so he could move his men around the planet like a Regicide board, to strike their most valuable assets.

Throughout the Crusade, he led the 732nd Expeditionary Fleet (The 733rd through 738th were also Iron Rangers), and conquered numerous planets and systems in the name of the Emperor. While his methods were considered slow by some, they were efficient, and effective, bringing more worlds into full compliance, and utilizing less resources than some other fleets. However, he had his misgivings, and issues with some of the methods the crusades carried out. This would start his fall to Chaos.

The Hektor Heresy

"Tiran was a good man. It's a shame I had to kill him."

During the Heresy, Iron Rangers forces were deployed under Hektor, to disrupt and destroy loyalist assaults and defenses across the galaxy. Most famous were his actions in the space and on land crippling the Scale Bearers, and, eventually, killing Tiran Osorus himself.

For Rogerius Merrill himself, most notable was his loss of sanity. It seems that after murdering his brother in cold blood, his mental state rapidly deteriorated. Though he still kept a sharp mind for tactics and the elimination of his foes, his concerns seemed more distant and his attention span rapidly shortened. By the time of the Siege on Terra, he was completely unconcerned with the success of the rebellion altogether. Hektor had abandoned giving him orders, instead using his Equerry, Cellweirwyr. Merrill spent the time "hunting" Terran nobility, officers, and other hard-to-reach targets for his own amusement. Though the Warmaster expressed displeasure at his brother's lack of enthusiasm and concern, he ultimately allowed it under the pretext that he was still assisting the siege.

When the Warmaster fell, Merrill was amongst the first to withdraw his forces. Though many attribute it to cowardice or his known pragmatism, those closest believe his retreat was spurred because he believed there was no further need to stay attached to the traitorous forces.

Post-Heresy

After the Heresy, Merrill and the Iron Rangers took up residence on the Warp Planet, Yr Helfa Annherfynol. It is a world entirely covered in forest and enshrouded in mists. Strange beasts lurk through the growth, and everything on the surface is either the hunter or hunted. Merrill spends most of his time there, only occasionally leaving to destroy a world in realspace, or to assist in another black crusade, endlessly hunting and killing, with a chosen few by his side. Those few (un)fortunate souls who have managed to see him and live say he has changed since his early days. His psychological issues have taken full control, and he believes civilization to be the downfall of mankind. His only goals in life are now to destroy social order and organization and to hunt.

Ascension to Daemon Prince

He was nice enough to let the artist sketch him before death.

After long deliberation and a far fall from sanity, Merrill decided to descend on the Hive World Greyshroud. In the first Legion-wide planetfall since the Heresy, the entire chain of command within the local PDF, Governance, and Communications fell to one swift assassination maneuver. Chaos spread as the Legion set fire to entire hab-blocks, riots erupted across the planet, and the streets ran red with the blood of the innocent and guilty alike as the Rangers ran through the sewers, across the spires, and through the alleys hunting man, woman, and child alike in one profane ritual. Cut off from the Imperium, some fought back, others joined in a desperate attempt to survive, and brother killed brother just to flee the wrath of a full Astartes Legion. All the violence only stoked the fires of the Rangers and added fuel to the ritual, as Merrill himself sacrificed civilian after civilian in his bid for Princedom. After a long silence, the Imperium finally sent aid to investigate the planet, only to find it completely devoid of human life. Eerily, the streets were as clean as though none had ever lived there, and, as the investigative team proceeded to the top of the hive, the only evidence they found of any activity was the occasional destroyed building, or burned-out husk. Upon finally opening the door to the governor's office at the peak of the spire, they found a scene of such horror and vileness that several members of the team lost their sanity upon just viewing it. The walls dripped red with blood, unidentifiable pieces of gore and bodies littered the surface, and pools of blood moving into constantly changing blasphemous symbols. A former altar hungered for yet more blood and bodies in the centre of it all. Finding no alternative, the spire was destroyed, and the ruins purified with the most potent of the Emperor's blessings. Centuries after the planet was re-inhabited and a new governance enacted, rumors still abound of dark rituals and darker things moving through the rubble of the spire that was.

The Books of Merrill

Merrill was responsible for two books written in his lifetime. The first, On Humanity, was a philosophical discussion on Humanity's right to the stars. Written during the Great Crusade, it was widely well-received. Many aspirants of various Legions were required to learn its lessons, and it was published in Low and High Gothic throughout the Imperium. It was divided into three parts: Suffering, Mastering, and Absolution.

Suffering dealt with the various setbacks, trials, tribulations, and disasters humanity had faced through the eons. More of an embellished tale of the horrors than a historical account, it was meant to put the reader in a frame of mind for the rest of the book.

Mastering covered how humanity overcame those obstacles, and each time forged itself anew.

Absolution was the truly philosophical part, discussing how necessary the past was in order to create a stronger mankind. "Suffering and Mastering," it states, "Are required for mankind to move forward. Only through evolving beyond our preconceived limitations can we truly come into the state we are now: conquerors of the Galaxy."

When Merrill declared himself for the traitors, many remembrancers toiled to keep the book in circulation, omitting the name of the original author and any references to the fallen angel and his comrades. The effort was dropped, and ultimately banned, when the second book was discovered. Titled On Society, it was far from the philosophical masterpiece of the original. Filled with inane and nonsensical rants, it discussed the need for humanity to tear down society and civilization in order to properly evolve. It argued that civilization was what held humanity back. The chains of oppression should be cast off, and replaced with anarchy and disorder.

Under Lumey's watch, possessing a copy of either book was tantamount to Treason. When the Ecclesiarchy came into power, they were declared Heretical. However, many Inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus consider them vital materials to understand the cult.

The Cult of Merrill

The Cult of Merrill is a specialized cult dedicated to Chaos Undivided. Despite the name, members do not actually worship the Daemon Prince Merrill. Instead, they follow the tenets set forth in his books. It is largely believed to be supported and trained by the Iron Rangers as a small preliminary force to gain a foothold on a new planet. The individual cultists are mostly radical naturalists, anarchists, and psychotic individuals who reflect Merrill's ideals of destroying society and civilization. They ultimately believe that society and civilisation are hollow concepts. That power and authority are given by the masses, and seek to reclaim them, replacing all law and order with pure chaos.

Personality

Merrill is a clinical psychopath. He is ruthless, cunning, and does not waste anything. He views much around him as tools to be used, and uses them until they no longer serve a purpose. Though he does not view the world with such labels as "good," and "evil," he understands that some actions will result in the greater benefit, whereas others will be a detriment to all. That being said, he does actively work towards the benefit of all, but it is definitely HIS version of that idea, which can put him at odds with other Primarchs and other members of the Imperium.

While not a braggart, he was extremely arrogant. Though he would never discuss such things out loud, he had a vast superiority complex. He believed himself to be the smartest, fastest, or best fighter in the room. If not all three. He did know his limitations, but he overestimated his strengths constantly, which led to a borderline narcissistic sense of self worth.

Conversationally, he does not add much. Though he has been known to make the occasional empassioned speech or long discussion, those are few and far between, and only when necessary. He says what needs to be said, usually being as sparse and direct with words as possible. He does not bandy with useless information, he simply cuts to the heart of the matter and is done with it.

Overall, he is unpopular with most of the other primarchs. Due to his anti-social and quiet ways, people aren't really aware of his psychopathic nature as few outside the legion are close enough to notice. He doesn't count many friends, mostly Uriel (as two sneaky bastards tend to get it off, even if it is an arm's length friendship)and Hektor. Arelex and Merrill would often join each other's company in large gatherings, largely because neither truly enjoyed fraternization, and both respected each other's outlooks. Tiran Osoris and Tolland Ötztal were known to occasionally strike up conversation, however it was mostly brief, and centered on hunting and remembering tribal life. He was actively antagonistic with Inferox, Kranios, Nathanog, and Sebastian Rex, due to their stubborn adherance to single-minded frontal assaults and waste. To most of the other Primarchs, he was just kind of there, in the back of the room. They paid little attention to him (and he to them), generally feeling uneasy around him, but for no reason they could quite put their fingers on. Though they might occasionally engage him in idle discussion (hunting, tactics, exploits), they shared comparatively little love for their brother, and few were surprised to find his name amongst the list of traitors.

His personal favorite pastime while on the crusade was dominoes. He took great joy in creating ever more elaborate patterns and watching them collapse with the first flick of his finger.

Appearance

Merrill is smaller than almost all of the other Primarchs, yet still stands head and shoulders above your average Space Marine, with dark, reddish skin, and long, black hair, shaved along the sides. He is also considered softer of features, and, in comparison, seems one of the most unassuming. In stark contrast to this are his eyes. While soft brown in color, they are eyes that have clearly seen hardship, giving a bitter, resentful look to what would otherwise be a rather bland and unassuming face. He wears a lighter version of his brothers' armor, leaving more soft armor, his neck, and arms exposed for greater flexibility. When not in a combat zone, he is often seen wearing softer leather and fur clothing, in the style of his homeworld.

He is among the physically weakest of the Primarchs, but what he lacks in brute strength, he makes up for in speed and cunning.

After his ascent to daemon prince, he became much taller, and gaunt. His skin is mottled, and constantly shifting colours, which always seem to blend with his surroundings. Though still bipedal, he bears the legs of a great predator, with abnormally long, clawed hands and arms. Soot-black feathered wings sprout from his back, and his bestial head bears antlers, forming almost a ring as a mockery of a crown or halo. His hair, oddly, still remains, but hangs low and limp on his stooped form, braids and locks held in place with leather, stone, and brass clasps and ties inscribed with blasphemous symbols and rites. He has a voice which simultaneously sounds like the rustling of leaves on the wind and the roar of a great predator.

Wargear

Before the Heresy, he bore a lighter, slimmer variant of Artificer Armor, designed for speed and mobility. As a weapon, he carried only his Power Spear, made to his specifications by the Mechanicum, and endowed with archeotech, titled The Imperial Talon.

His spear was destroyed during his battle with Tiran Osoris, and so he needed new weapons. As reward for his efforts against the Scale Bearers, Hektor granted him two weapons of terrible daemonic power. A tomahawk and dagger, respectively named Hollti O Penglogau and Bywyd-Yfwr.