Cypher (Warhammer 40,000)

Latest revision as of 05:41, 9 January 2025

Cypher is a male literary character who features in Warhammer 40,000.

Biography

Cypher was the name given to a member of the Adeptus Astartes of the Dark Angels of the Imperium of Man.

The terrible secret of the Dark Angels is that during the Horus Heresy some of their brethren fell to Chaos, corrupted by the Legion's second in command, Luther. The renegades were defeated in a battle that destroyed the Dark Angels' homeworld, Caliban, but many of the traitors survived to be cast through space and time by the Chaos gods. The events of Luther's betrayal are known only to select few amongst the Dark Angels and their successor Chapters. The defeated survivors are known as The Fallen, mercilessly hunted down and made to repent by the Interrogator-Chaplains of the Dark Angels.

In an instant, when Caliban was breaking apart from cataclysmic battle, the Fallen were cast into the Warp. Anywhere from mere moments later to thousands of years in the future, many of the Fallen awoke to find themselves on some far distant and unknown planet. The eddies of the Warp are fickle. As time in the Realm of Chaos does not flow according to any rules, the time in transit for the Fallen might have felt like it was mere seconds, although millennia would have passed. Conversely the individual may have spent ages in the Immaterium experiencing untold torments and long journeys through nightmarish landscapes, only to awake back in realspace within seconds of Caliban's destruction. To this day, there are even some of the Fallen that have not yet been released back into the galaxy. Truly, the Ruinous Powers are cruel; their capricious plans beyond the ken of mortal understanding. Although some of the Fallen had been mere novices-in-training at the destruction of Caliban, most were seasoned Space Marines. Indeed, some were first generation troops created in the First Founding, as overseen by the Emperor himself. These were veteran warriors, many of whom survived multiple actions during the Great Crusade. With their wealth of combat experience and superhuman attributes, these individuals found it easy to carve their own paths to greatness out in the wider galaxy. Some rose to rule over planetary empires while others sought immediate revenge against the Imperium. It can only be surmised by Cypher's abilities and combat prowess that he was a fully trained and already well seasoned Space Marine at the time of Caliban's destruction. This ties in with clues, which the Dark Angels would later discover, that allege Cypher was an important officer with a distinctive role in the Legion's traditions.

Cypher, one of the Fallen, continually draws the attention of the Dark Angels. He is believed responsible for many acts of instability across the Imperium, and is hunted by the Dark Angels with zeal even greater than that reserved for 'normal' Fallen. Even when he is captured, he soon vanishes, whisked away by his mysterious patron. Although his immediate presence heralds disorder and strife for the Imperium, it always emerges transcendent from it, stronger than before, which may suggest an intention behind Cypher's actions to make the Imperium stronger through struggle (following the old philosophy of 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger')

Like many of the Fallen, Cypher wears black power armor matching the pre-Horus Heresy livery of the Dark Angels, covered with white robes. He wields a bolt pistol and a plasma pistol of master craftsmanship, and is so skilled with them he can fire both simultaneously.

Although the Dark Angels believe that they can only gain forgiveness for their actions by 'redeeming' all of the Fallen, others privy to the full tale believe that Cypher may have another answer. These people believe that Cypher's seemingly random appearances conceal a path that is slowly leading towards Holy Terra. They also point to the fact that Cypher carries a sword, yet he never draws it. This could be the sword of Primarch El'Jonson, broken in half and then lost during his final battle with the traitor Luther. One theory states that if Cypher manages to enter the presence of the Emperor of Mankind, the sword will repair itself and the Fallen Angels will be forgiven for their transgressions. Another theory states that Cypher wishes to use the sword to slay the dying Emperor's mortal body, thus completing the Star Child cycle.

Over those many millennia, the Dark Angels had caught up with their quarry many times but each time Cypher had inexplicably eluded them.

The Dark Angels ask many questions, but give no answers themselves. Despite the constant search for Cypher, none have yet been successful in capturing or destroying him. Or so it would seem. The Dark Angels have considered Cypher destroyed on numerous occasions – yet he always returns. The Red Corsairs, still seething after what they believe was their betrayal during the Escovan Campaign, thought they had cornered the elusive Cypher on the Strike Cruiser Rapier. In the deep emptiness of space, they halted the Rapier, yet when they boarded they found only Chaos Cultists. Before they were all slain, none of the cultists could verify the whereabouts of the mysterious Space Marine who had been in their midst, nor could they tell of how he escaped.

Upon Brigia, it was established that Chaos Space Marines were deeply involved with the Fallen, and it was no real surprise when the clues that had been leading the Unforgiven across the Gothic Sector now led towards that most hated of refuges: the Eye of Terror. Reports of the Dark Angels' actions on Brigia had already reached Terra and questions began to filter back to the Rock. Even as answers were crafted to explain why elements from their Chapters had appeared so far from their assigned missions, the Unforgiven were plotting their courses towards the forbidden zones - the most dreaded part of the galaxy -- the Eye of Terror. This hellish realm was a relative safe haven for many of the Chaos Space Marine Legions. It was perilous even to track the signal, for psykers that open their mind in the direction of the Eye of Terror risk falling prey to fell things from beyond. Dark Angels Librarians, however, dared the attentions of the darker powers in order to achieve the trace –- following the trail to the outermost of the twin planets Cocytus I and II. These were not fully contaminated planets immersed in the chaotic energies, but rather astral bodies that maintained orbit at the edge of the Sentinel Sector -– a region of space that was only occasionally enveloped by the Immaterium.

To travel too close to the Eye of Terror was forbidden by the Imperium, yet a council of the Inner Circle was called to discuss that very plan. That region was notoriously unstable and dangerous, and to enter it they would have to navigate around temporal eddies, space anomalies and perhaps Chaos Space Marine battle fleets. Additionally, an Imperial presence surrounded the Eye of Terror –- from listening posts and floating mine fields all the way to heavily fortified worlds. This would make it difficult to enter the Eye of Terror without being observed. After the action on Brigia, several Inquisitors had already been dispatched to look into the reported presence of the despised Alpha Legion. The Unforgiven Chapters could ill afford to draw further attention to themselves. All the Dark Angels successors had inherited their Primarch's legendary tenacity, however, so they did not back away from the ever-growing challenges. Although of reserved mien, they raged inside at the narrow escape of their quarry. That their long and winding path through the Gothic Sector might end without satisfaction was unbearable. The Dark Angels and their successors thirsted to respond – to take the fight to their foe. Supreme Grand Master Purson agreed to send a task force to the very edge of the Eye of Terror. The Unforgiven sent a single Strike Cruiser, the Sable Lions' Fury of Caliban, into the swirling mists. It carried companies gathered from the Dark Angels, the Angels of Vengeance, Angels of Redemption and the Lions Sable. At first, all went well – they successfully ran the gauntlet of Warp storms and emerged in realspace to bypass all of the Imperial stations. Transmissions to the Rock were patchy and unreliable, but the Fury of Caliban had reached the orbit of Cocytus I. A strike force immediately made planetfall.

Overview

Personality and attributes

In reality, the Lord Cypher itself was originally a title within the Order of Caliban.

A mysterious figure, Cypher was a being wrapped in shadow whose motives and methods were an enigma. Those few aware of his existence were unsure if he was Mankind's bitterest enemy or a lost pilgrim seeking atonement.

To the Dark Angels, he was nothing less than their most hate foe with the Masters of the Chapter seeking him above all others.

Powers and abilities

He was bedecked in archaic makeshift gear as he had no Chapter to call his own forcing Cypher to make do with whatever he can gather. His backpack has been refitted countless times over the centuries, and his armour was a mix of various patterns. Similar to many of the Fallen, he was shown to wears white robes that covered his black power armor.

He was armed with a bolt pistol, and a plasma pistol incorporating an external heat dissipator. Both weapons were masterfully crafted with Cypher being skilled enough that he can fire both simultaneously.

The most standout feature was an enormous sword carried on his back which may or may not be the fabled Lion Sword.

Originally, the name adopted by Cypher was a post within the Order namely that of the Lord Cypher who operated as the Keeper of Secrets and traditions. They were charged with ensuring the Caliban's proud traditions were maintained, the ruling masters secretly selected a single member to become the Lord Cypher. Upon taking the title, the Lord Cypher renounced his own name, enshrouding his very appearance beneath cloak and hood. It was forbidden for any others to recognise his old self, for the Lord Cypher was to forsake his very personality, and from that day onwards was to instead embody the laws, customs and strict disciplines of The Order. He was tasked the responsibility of ensuring the traditions of The Order were upheld, and that the recruits and masters alike were never allowed to degenerate from their lofty ideals. The Lord Cypher advised the masters on all matters of protocol and officiated at many important ceremonies. The Lord Cypher was a lofty position, one which The Order took extremely seriously, for it was known that it was the nature of the galaxy to recede and structures to collapse. The Cypher of the 41st Millennium still embodied many of these ancient tenets.

Notes

• Cypher was created by Games Workshop and he featured in the setting of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
• During the Eye of Terror campaign, a figure known as the Voice of the Emperor served as a herald for Abaddon the Despoiler where his description matched that of Cypher though the two were never said to be the same character.
• In the novel Descent of Angels, part of the Black Library's Horus Heresy series, it is revealed that Lord Cypher is a title used by the Order, the knightly order commanded by Lion'El Jonson during his initial years on Caliban. The bearer of the title is responsible for maintaining the Order's traditions, rituals and ceremonies, and is an influential advisor to the Order's leadership. Upon taking the title, the Lord Cypher gives up his birth name; it is also forbidden for anyone else to use or even know it (Scanlon, 2007). Although the character Cypher does not appear in the novel, it seems implied that he is the last bearer of the title, and that therefore Cypher is not his birth name. Some fans believe one of the characters in Descent of Angels will become Cypher in a future novel.

Appearances

• Warhammer 40,000:

External Links

• Lexicanum Wiki Entry

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