Absalom Vaughn

Absalom Vaughn, the Amber King, is the Primarch of the IIIrd Legion, the Black Stars. When reunited with his Legion, he ruthlessly purged their former barbaric nature and instilled in them a disciplined nobility. Born and raised as royalty in the paradise world of Skandra Prima, Absalom believes that it is his natural right to stand at the top, pushing his sons to ever greater feats and honours. The disappearance of the Emperor and the radical changes it has brought forth have greatly perturbed the lord of the IIIrd, and led him to a dark path of betrayal and corruption.

Dawn of the Dark Sun
Deep in the eastern reaches of Segmentum Ultima lies a kingdom, small and insignificant in the grand  scheme of things, but thriving nonetheless, yet another haven of humanity in a hostile galaxy. Skandra, as the kingdom was called, was composed of three worlds, united millenia ago by the First King, a mythological figure worshipped by the populace. First among those worlds is Skandra Prima, capital of the kingdom and the seat of power for the royal line. A planet of remarkable natural beauty and plentiful resources, its overall mild climate and fertile soil lent themselves to the development of a stable agricultural system that allowed the first settlers to survive and thrive. Now, thousands of years later, the natives live in plenty, enjoying a booming economy based on a rapidly growing industry, strong commerce, as well as the support of the kingdom's other worlds, such as Liva-Sar, with its bountiful crop yields or Talanis, the industrial powerhouse and foremost producer of spacecrafts.

Ruling over this diminutive utopia is the royal house of Vaughn, who trace their lineage to the First King of legends, peacemaker and bringer of unity. The line of succession, strictly hereditary in nature, has stood unbroken for all of recorded history, its last member being king Roland Vaughn, renowned and loved for his compassionate, wise and effective reign.

Peace had blessed Skandra for as long as its people could remember. However, all things come to an end, and so this peace would not be everlasting. The herald of its passing would be a curious celestial object that pierced Skandra's atmosphere in an otherwise uneventful summer night; a shooting star that landed on the dense pine forests of mount Keuwberg. As expected, it did not take long for this event to captivate the minds of Skandrans, with many believing it to be an omen of great fortune for the world, in accordance with ancient superstition. A scant two days later, a team of mountaineers, no longer able to contain their burning curiosity, set out for the impact site, and when they had finally approached, witnessing the object with their own eyes, they came to a astounding realisation; this was no mere comet or other piece of cosmic debris, but a shuttle of sorts, its baroque ornaments not resembling anything they were familiar with. Before the search party had a chance to rationalise the spectacle before them, the pod's doors opened, the chromed metal sheets sliding away to reveal the mess of cables and instruments inside. And there, lying in a compartment resembling a toddler's crib, was a human child, no older than four years of age, seemingly unharmed by the impact, and staring at them with eyes of gleaming amber, home to sparks of curiosity and intelligence that defied its tender age. Taking a precious few moments to regard the persons before it and assess whether they posed a threat, the child climbed out of the crib and took its first, unsteady, steps towards the outside world. It was then that the men saw the child to be a boy of superb beauty, possessed of an otherworldly air that captivated and unnerved the men alike.

At a loss about their course of action, the search party decided to bring the child to Ennisgal, the capital, and to King Roland himself. And so they did, and three days later the boy stood in the throne room, surrounded by nobles and politicians who made no effort to contain their marvel. More than anyone, however, King Roland was astonished by this mysterious visitor from the stars until, eventually, he decided to adopt the child into his family as his son. Thus, the star child was inducted into the House of Vaughn as Roland's adopted son, along with his sons Lares and Frans. Given the name Absalom he was now a prince of Skandra.

Young Absalom's growth defied the expectation of his family and close circles; in merely two years he was approaching adolescence, and was absorbing the teachings delivered to him at a prodigious rate, his intellect rivaling the brightest minds of the Kingdom, who had been brought in as his tutors. A handful more years passed, and Absalom, as an adult, had not only mastered topics such as science, literature or politics, but now stood a giant that towered over his peers, boasting physical capabilities well beyond that of common humanity. His sharp wit, supernal charisma and cunning made him an ideal politician, and those who foresaw a bright career in the parliament were many. Others, aware of the gifted strategic acumen that was believed to have been ingrained to his mind and had been sharpened during his studies at the Skandran military academy, saw in him a grand marshal that would lead their armies to never before seen glories and would conquer the stars in the name of Vaughn. All those expectations would one day be realised, as Absalom would lead Skandra to the peak of its eminence.

Proud of his adopted son, Roland Vaughn had been a doting father throughout Absalom's life, always praising him for his achievements while also providing guidance and counsel meant to shape him into an ethical, responsible person and leader. When Absalom finally came of age, the king did not hesitate to place him as supreme commander of the Skandran Army, a position Absalom accepted with gratitude. He believed this to be a token of trust from his father, a sign that one day, when old age had made the king incapable to rule, Absalom would be his chosen successor. Thus, he patiently fulfilled his duties as head of the kingdom's armies, ensuring that they were always prepared to defend their homeland should danger ever rear its head. Simultaneously, Absalom had not neglected his political work, and was actively involved in public matters, maintaining an ever-expanding network of connections as well as a strong following among his people.

The years passed, however, and as King Roland grew older and frailer, terrible news reached Absalom; for all his graces and gifts, he would not succeed his father on the throne. As ancient laws dictate, kingship is passed on to the eldest son. Thus, when the king passed, Absalom's older brother, Lares, would be crowned in his place.

To Absalom, this seemed unacceptable, an injustice of unfathomable proportions. For who else could match his skills, who else could rival him? Only he could bring Skandra to its true potential, raise it up as the ruler of the galaxy it deserved to be. Though he loved his father and cared for his brothers, he was fully aware of their different natures, of his effortless superiority. Destiny had sent him to this world for a reason, and by appointing Lares as his successor, Roland was challenging destiny itself.

In actuality, both Lares and Frans were skilled in their own right. Though the very thought of matching his adopted brother would be preposterous, given time to cultivate their aptitudes and expand their abilities they would both make for adequate leaders. Absalom however, gifted as he was with divine skills that mortal minds could hardly grasp, could not help but judge them based on his own exorbitant standards. Thus it should come as no surprise that he found them lacking the necessary traits of a king.

This decision of Roland's caused a rift in the relationship of Absalom and his family; he spent ever less time in the palace, instead moving permanently to his own estate, and he withdrew from the public eye, choosing instead to ponder in solitude for a way to change his father's mind. And then, as he was reaching his wit's end, he came across a most unexpected solution;

War was coming to Skandra.

For the most part of recent history, two planets have stood in open opposition to Skandra; Antire and Fyressy. Antire, a warmongering, militaristic world ruled by an authoritarian regime, had been the kingdom's nemesis for generations, however they had remained quiet since the begrudging peace treaty signed after the last war, a war which Antire lost. Public sentiment towards Skandra was negative to the extreme, and it seemed that the hatred that poisoned the Antirans' hearts had reached a boiling point. Fyressy, on the other hand, had kept a more neutral stance to the conflict, content to supply Antire with weapons and necessary supplies with hopes of economic benefits in case of Skandra's defeat. The status quo, however, had changed following Antire's recent invasion and subsequent occupation of Fyressy. Using the subjugated world's resources and population for the war effort, Antire was planning a surprise offensive against Skandra. An offensive about which the Skandran military had been informed thanks to intercepted communications.

Absalom, being the commander of the army, found out about the offensive soon afterwards, and an insidious plan started to formulate in a mind poisoned by envy and wounded honour; by timely warning the public about the invasion he could give them a precious opportunity to prepare, mitigating the loss of innocent lives. By withholding this information, however, he could prepare in absolute secrecy, use these circumstances to solve his problems. Remove the obstacles, his brothers, from his path, and ascend to his rightful position as King of Skandra.

Two years passed. King Roland, ailing with illness and old age, had bequeathed his throne to Lares and withdrawn to his chateau, while Absalom, with his soldiers boasting superb training and armaments, his defences bolstered and poised to crush the enemy's attacks, bade his time. This would be his finest hour.

When the attack finally came, it shook the planet with its brutality. Cities razed to the ground, thousands dying in the blink of an eye. However, where they expected to find a complacent, weakened opponent, Antire and Fyressy met an opponent at peak condition, poised to counter their every move without fail, all thanks to Absalom, the mastermind behind Skandra's salvation, hailed as a hero across the Kingdom. The first part of his plan was proceeding uninhibited.

When it came to the second part, the pieces had already been set; King Lares had been moved to the royal shelter in accordance with protocol, a shelter to which access codes are available only to members of the royal family. There, the king would be safe from all harm. Only Absalom had different plans for his eldest brother's fate. With an encrypted message to Antire high command, he gave them the location of the shelter, as well as something more important still; Prince Frans' own access codes.

What followed was a tragedy, as squads of Antiran special forces stormed the shelter, slaughtering the guards and executing Lares and his family. When the authorities investigated the breach, they found that the attackers had not broken in, merely used a code handed to them by Frans, whose envy and greed had led him to betray his own blood. Absalom, upon finding out, publicly excommunicated his brother from House Vaughn before trying him in court martial and finally executing him.

Now acting as the uncrowned king, Absalom led the skandran armies in defence of their home for seven months before finally repelling his foes and sending them reeling back to Antire. The war, however, was not over. Having met with unforeseen resistance, the Antire forces had been dealt a crippling blow, and were incapable of defending their homeworld from the Skandran counterattack. Leading the counter-invasion from the front, fighting and bleeding with the sons and daughters of the Kingdom, Absalom carved vast expanses of skandra-controlled territory on Antire. Following two years of brutal warfare, Antire surrendered to the invaders. The war was over, Absalom was triumphant.

Absalom Ascendant
With the threat of Antire now neutralised, and with the Kingdom expanded following the latest conquests, Absalom could now proceed with his grand scheme unimpeded. His coronation, overseen by none other than his father Roland, was broadcast across the Kingdom, who watched in ecstasy as their saviour now became their leader. Billions hung from his lips as he promised them the stars, as he spoke of the bright future he would deliver to them. But first, they should focus on familiar worlds, their own worlds, and rebuild stronger what their foes destroyed.

The rebuilding efforts moved with surprising speed and efficiency under the guidance of Absalom and his hand-picked staff. Cities that lay as ash and cinders were erected anew, stronger than before and thrice as beautiful. The Amber King saw this as an opportune moment to improve upon outdated construction plans, renovate public buildings and rid the Skandran cities of slums and other such unsightly constructs. This new Skandra would adhere to the vision of its master, a vision with no tolerance for flaws.

Especially creative was Absalom's handling of Skandra's industrial problem. The industrial infrastructure was destroyed despite the army's best efforts, leaving the planet with no production output. Absalom decided to rebuild the factories and plants not on Skandra, which they would pollute and spoil, but on the vanquished Antire, a punishment for their transgressions against their betters. Over a period of seven years myriads of industrial plants were built on the world, intended to cover the majority of the Kingdom's needs. The populace was forced into manning their factories, their wages amounting to little more than scraps that barely allowed them to survive. Antire, once a thriving major power, was now reduced to a planet-wide factory, its natives all but enslaved and its environment ruined, all to sate the Skandrans' thirst for vengeance.

Soon after Absalom's restoration projects had been completed, his reign was graced by yet another expansion of Skandran borders, this time using diplomacy and politics instead of military might. The princess of Riudal, Kierstenn Alkrantz, who had just succeeded her late father to the throne, expressed her desire to incorporate Riudal, her home, to the Kingdom, and proposed a marriage between her and the King of Skandra, purely political in nature, to consolidate this alliance. Absalom could not oppose this proposition, as Riudal was a considerable power in the system and would significantly strengthen the Kingdom. Thus, Riudal became part of the Kingdom, and Absalom found his life-long companion. Though their marriage was indeed political, the pair soon bonded and grew close. Absalom, for the first time, met a mortal who could stimulate him in both mind and flesh. Each was drawn in by the other's beauty and sharp intellect and a strong love blossomed between them.

Birth of Stars
A decade of peace, progress and plenty graced Skandra following Absalom's coronation. The love and respect the people harboured for their king had only increased over the years, as his wise leadership had improved their lives tenfold and delivered to them nothing short of a utopia.

This period of peace, too, was interrupted by another interstellar visitor. One morning, the Skandrans woke up to find that colossal spaceships orbited their planet, and Absalom was informed that a mysterious guest was asking to meet him in private. Against the warnings of his friend and close advisor Tobiah Stolar, Absalom decided to take this risk and met the stranger. At first sight, he recognised that whoever this man was, he was closer to him, to his own superhuman nature, than any person he had so far met. They spoke, and the man informed him of his origins; he spoke of his birth on Terra, the very cradle of Mankind, of the fledgling Imperium Absalom's real brothers were fighting to create. He spoke of Absalom's sons, a legion of transhuman warriors made from his very genes, his soldiers that would follow him in his conquest of the stars in the name of Man. Finally, he revealed His identity as the Emperor of Mankind and Absalom's creator, his father. The Dark Sun, in awe at these revelations, was nevertheless thrilled at the possibility that more of Mankind existed, and recognised that, finally, he had found his true calling; to forge a new future for his race, built in accordance to his own designs. Thus, he accepted his Father's invitation, and travelled with him to Terra, where he was educated in the ways of the Imperium by his Father and elder brother Theoderaf, with whom he forged a strong bond of camaraderie, before meeting with his sons, the IIIrd Legion.

What awaited him, however, was a terrible disappointment. Instead of being met with his honourable genesons, proud and gallant paladins that fought for the glory of Mankind, he was instead met with a horde of miscreants, a band of unstable savages, killing, raiding and pillaging constantly on their mind. The IIIrd Legion were naught but common thugs that brought shame to his name and were a candidate for purgation on grounds of insubordination and extreme violence.

All this needed to change, and this change should be enacted in a ruthless, awe-inspiring manner so as to ensure the IIIrd's future obedience. So it was that, upon first meeting with his sons, Absalom gave no grand speech, made no declarations, delivered no praise upon them. Instead, he merely forced the Legion Master to his knees and executed him before his brothers, an example of what was to follow. Hundreds more were executed to drive his message across; that the IIIrd would conform to his vision, or die. In the meantime, using stable geneseed derived from the Primarch himself, new recruits from Skandra were being inducted to replenish the ever-dwindling numbers of Terrans, who were being systemically purged through executions, suicide attacks and gruelling meatgrinder campaigns. In a few years, the IIIrd had been cleansed of its former dishonour under Absalom's guidance. It was then that their father deemed them worthy of a new name. The Marauders were no more. In their place now stood the Black Stars, paragons of the Legiones Astartes, agents of Mankind's future and Absalom's ambitions.

The Amber King's relationships with his brothers were no less tumultuous than with his Terran sons. Outshadowed once more by older brothers, Absalom felt his prestige threatened once more. In addition, his egotism and narcissistic tendencies, which had been fuelled by his successful reign on Skandra, as well as his Legion's poor performance in comparison to their peers, which filled his soul with envy and feelings of inadequacy, further exacerbated the situation and drove a wedge between him and his brothers. To him, the Primarchs were not family, but contenders, rivals that he had to surpass no matter the cost. And to surpass them, he would have to push his sons to their limit, force out their full potential and hone their skills to their maximum, so that they could adequately fulfil Absalom's plans and aspirations. Glory would be his, and so would the Emperor's favour. And if it meant making enemies of his brothers or forcing his son to their breaking points, so be it. In the altar of ambition, no sacrifice is too great.

Using the technology and resources of the Imperium, Absalom toiled endlessly towards improving his kingdom. Finally able to realise his grand vision, within two decades the changes he had brought to Skandra had turned it into one of the most prosperous territories of the Imperium, with his people's living standards orders of magnitude better than that of the average Imperial citizen. Under the rule of the Amber King, Skandra Prima had blossomed into a Paradise World, renowned for its allure and affluence. Such progress could never be achieved without sacrifice, however, and in the case of Skandra's advancement, an entire world would act as the sacrificial lamb; Antire was offered to the Mechanicum as a token of kinship between Mars and Skandra, and was converted into a Forge World, its inhabitants forced into menial labour or, in the case of those less fortunate, servitorisation. Using the substantial industrial capabilities of a Forge World, Absalom ensured that neither his kingdom nor his legion would seldom experience a shortage of supplies.

As for the Black Stars, freed as they were from the burden of their disreputable origins, they were fully dedicated to the ideals of the Great Crusade and the protection of Mankind. Over the course of the Crusade, the IIIrd Legion, having undergone a drastic and remarkably harsh reformation at the unyielding hands of Absalom Vaughn, carved a path of glory and accolades matched only by a select few of their peers. The surgical precision of their pacification campaigns, owing to their meticulous tactical preparation and impeccable application of their battle plans that allowed them to bring their foes to swift compliance or annihilation yet swifter, ensured that the Black Stars left in their path worlds not ravaged by long, gruelling wars that wore down any present infrastructure and population; instead, any worlds that had been graced by the providential intervention of the Stars were, on average, left in a state ripe for reconstitution and revitalisation. Forces of the IIIrd, including civilian personnel and Astartes officers alike had shouldered the task of leading the newly liberated planets on the journey to rebuild their homes in new fashion befitting the grand vision of their saviours, with the Dark Sun personally leading such efforts on many an occasion. Following the Legion's departure, it was not unheard of for small garrisons of Skandran Auxilia or, in those planets deemed important enough, Astartes, to be left behind.

The great care the Black Stars showed in regards to the welfare of the worlds they brought to the Imperial fold, coupled with the brilliant fashion in which they led the battles, displaying unmatched martial prowess and strategic acumen, bolstered their popularity among the people of the Imperium, elevating them to an envied heroic status and granting Lord Vaughn the unbridled adoration of billions. This effect was even more prevalent in the worlds that had been visited by the Legion's pacification efforts. There, powerful cults of personality had been formed around the Amber King, who they celebrated as their saviour and protector, showering his person with veneration that rivaled that directed towards even the Emperor forewarning of a much darker future.

The meteoric rise of the Stars, however, was not without its fair share of controversy; many were those who accused Lord Vaughn and his progeny of using the Crusade as a means to satisfy their ravenous egotism and further their own goals, while Absalom's brothers beheld the IIIrd with a mixture of respect, admiration but also suspicion, for they were aware of the sentiments harboured by their Skandran peers. As such, the IIIrd boasted few close allies among the Legiones Astartes, with their only notable associates being the Red Eyes and the Stalking Leopards. The sons of Vaughn believed themselves stronger alone, and needed not the companionship of their competitors to distract them from their duties.

The Disappearance
The Emperor's mysterious disappearance on the turn of a new millennium came as a great shock to Absalom. His Father was the only person he deemed capable of leading Mankind towards the future they deserved, a future that had cost them countless lives to build. In his absence, the Primarch feared, those that coveted his throne, many among them his own brothers, would lead the Imperium to ruin as they struggled for domination. So it was that Absalom came to a realisation; there is no one more suitable to rule in the Emperor's stead, in the Emperor's name, than himself. With a new goal in mind, the Dark Sun rallied his legion and headed to Skandra, keen to put order to the havoc wreaked by the Emperor's disappearance and the Astronomican's malfunction. After sorting out his home's own affairs, then he could dedicate himself to saving his Imperium from the carrion eaters that were flocking around its corpse.

Wargear

 * The Maega Mail - Absalom's personal suit of artificer armour, though lighter than those of his brothers' to suit his fighting style, remains a masterpiece of Martial craftsmanship nonetheless. Forged by the most artistic magi of Mars under the personal guidance of the Primarch, this regal panoply is named after the twin suns that shine over Skandra, these same suns being depicted on the chestplate. Decorated with intricate designs and coloured in resplendent black and gold, its main feature is its customised shield generator which shields Absalom from all but the most potent attacks. Every blow absorbed charges the field with energy which is stored and may be unleashed in the form of devastating arcs of solid light that rend apart any hapless foes in the vicinity.
 * Algol - Algol is an exquisitely forged power mace gifted to the Primarch by Kelbor-Hal, Fabricator General of Mars, as a display of gratitude for Absalom, who most generously offered one of his fiefs, Antire to the Mechanicum in order to be made into a Forge World. A weapon whose elegant and ornate exterior belies its brutal power, it uses technology akin to a thunder hammer, storing a static charge that is unleashed when swung in a devastating blast that crushes armor and bone alike. When active, a pale corona of light surrounds the mace's head which intensifies on impact.
 * Alcor - A visually striking axe with a long hilt and broad blade, Alcor was crafted by Forge Lord Armin Doss of the IIIrd for his Primarch during the Great Crusade. The head of the axe houses a peculiar crystal retrieved from a purged planet, whose indigenous xenos populace used such crystals as a power source. The blade is superheated upon activation, burning white hot, its touch sears through flesh and metal alike, causing deep and grievous wounds.
 * Verovaar - Not every weapon in Absalom's vast collection is made by the Imperium. Some are remnants of an era long past and Verovaar is one such weapon, an archaotech weapon that would classify as a rifle in the hands if any Astartes but which Absalom has repurposed into his personal sidearm. Once a prized relic of House Vaughn, claimed from the warsuit of the defeated king of Kestram centuries before Absalom arrived to Skandra, the Primarch retrieved this weapon from the royal vaults and used it in the war against Antire and Fyressy. Verovaar fires potent shots of energy from its eight barrels with great accuracy and rate of fire, and is also capable of simultaneously discharging all barrels in a concentrated blast, sacrificing range for firepower.
 * Frag Grenades

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