40K Lore: Guilliman – Character of the Primarch
Today Loremaster, we take a look at the character and latter days of Roboute Guilliman.
We have discussed the biography and history of the Ultramarines Primarch before. Today we look at his lesser known acts after the Heresy, his character and personal artifacts.
Post Heresy & Death
In the aftermath of the Great Betrayal, the Emperor had been incapacitated, and the Space Marines’ numbers had been decimated by defections to Chaos and battle losses. The Ultramarines were left as the largest loyal legion, and Guilliman assumed the title of Lord Commander of the Imperium. For years thereafter, Guilliman deployed and led the Ultramarines throughout the galaxy, reclaiming worlds lost to Chaos and preventing the loss of still others to rebellion or invasion from outside the Imperium. At the same time, Guilliman reorganized the Space Marine Legions as Chapters and composed the Codex Astartes, the tome that the Ultramarines (and many other chapters) follow strictly.
Guilliman led the assault against the Alpha Legion on Eskrador in the aftermath of the Heresy, and due to the vanity of Alpharius, he utilised a surprise attack at the heart of the traitors and killed Alpharius in a duel. However, he and the Ultramarines were greatly mistaken in their belief that the snake would die without the head, as indeed, the Alpha Legion’s symbol is a hydra, a multi-headed serpent. The Ultramarines were soundly pushed back time and again by the traitor marines, undaunted at the loss of their Primarch. Guilliman eventually pulled his forces back into orbit and bombarded the planet from above.
Later, in a battle against the Emperor’s Children, Guilliman would meet his end. Where Alpharius had not greatly embraced the Chaos powers, and was essentially unchanged from his original Primarch form, Fulgrim had been to the Eye of Terror, reaping the terrible powers therein, and had been elevated by Slaanesh to a mighty and fell Daemon Prince, no longer resembling a man, but his original purity of form corrupted and augmented by the ruinous powers. Fulgrim was now a serpentine creature of immense stature, and multi-limbed. Each limb carried a poisoned sword, and in the clash he stabbed Guilliman in the neck; Guilliman was interred in the Stasis field by the Apothecaries, and remains frozen in the instant of death, while Fulgrim escaped back to the Eye of Terror.
Currently, his mortal body remains in stasis, on the Shrine of Guilliman deep within the Temple of Correction, one of the holiest places in the entire Imperium. Some pilgrims claim that the Primarch’s wounds are slowly recovering, a feat credited to the power of the Emperor. Others deny the phenomenon, and point out the sheer impossibility of change within the stasis field. Yet enough believe the stories to come and witness for themselves the miracle of the Primarch.
Character of the Man
An extract from Ultima Operational Record 1136.271.v (the official chronicle of the Battle of Calth) describes the Ultramarines’ Primarch thus:
He is handsome, in a plain way. He is handsome the way a regent on an old coin is handsome, like a good sword is handsome. He is not handsome like a ritual weapon, the way Fulgrim is. He is not angelic, like Sanguinius…
There is a dutiful line to his jaw, like his good brother Dorn. They share a nobility. There is the great strength of Ferrus and the vitality of Mortarion. There is, sometimes, the rogue glint of the Khan in his eyes, or the solemnity of the Lion. In the architecture of his nose and brow there is, many claim, the energy and triumph of Horus Lupercal. There is none of the bitterness that shadows Corax, or the persecuted despair that haunts poor Konrad. There is never any of the deliberate mystery that obscures Alpharius or Magnus and he is more open than that buried soul Vulkan… He never displays the pitch of fury found in Angron, nor do his eyes ever ignite with the psychotic gleam of Russ…
He is a high achiever. He knows this about himself. Sometimes it feels like a fault that he has to excuse to his brothers, but then he feels guilty for making excuses… He writes a great deal. He codifies everything. Information is power. Technical theory is victory… He uses a stylus by choice, recording in his own handwriting.
He has been writing notes on T’Vanti war practices for seventeen minutes, but he has still noted and marked fifteen hundred data bulletins and updates that have tracked across the secondary screens to his left. He sees and reconciles everything. Information is victory.
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Relics of the Primarch
It is known that at the height of his power during the Horus Heresy, Guilliman was armed with the Hand of Dominion – a mighty power gauntlet that with Guilliman’s strength could fell a Titan, the Gladius Incandor – a blade of exceptional craftsmanship and a symbol of his Legion and also – with an Arbitrator, a customised combi-bolter. For protection, Guilliman wore a suit of Power Armour known as the Armour of Reason.
Hand of Dominion
The Hand of Dominion was a Power Fist, that was one of the many weapons owned by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. It was an iconic weapon, that was of not only surpassing quality, but also seen by the Ultramarines Legion as a symbol of their Primarch’s might and authority.
Gladius Incandor
The Gladius Incandor was a glittering silver blade, that was one of the many weapons owned by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. It was an iconic weapon, that was of not only surpassing quality, but also seen by the Ultramarines Legion as a symbol of their Primarch’s might and authority.
Armour of Reason
The Armour of Reason was worn by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman and was known in the legends of his Legion, as the ever-reforged armour. It was said that Guilliman himself had this set of artificer power armour remade and adapted countless times if ever a flaw or weakness was discovered in battle. At various times the artisanship of both Mars and his fellow Primarchs Vulkan and Perturabo influenced its design, before the Horus Heresy sundered the Imperium.
~ Courage and Honour!
