Decimus Aurelian

Decimus Aurelian is the legendary current Legatus (Chapter Master) of the Ordinators Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. He has lead his chapter since the death of Legatus Aureus Magnus against the Necrons of the Ezekanekh Dynasty that had begun to awaken beneath the surface of the techno-barbarian feudal world of Yamanato in the Azuran Sector. His command of the chapter has been marked by a series of crushing victory after victory against Chaos forces across the Segmentums Pacificus, Solar, and Tempestus in particular. He has earned a reputation as a fearless leader willing to lead by example from the vanguard in battle with his legendary relic sword and shield, Suncleaver and Aegis Lux. He enjoys a reputation as a peacemaker and reasonable authority figure among the few who know of his secretive chapter, despite his incredibly strongly held convictions.

== History ==

Aurelian was born to the Knightly House of Tiberian on the Knightworld of Tharan V in the the late 7th century M41. No records remain of exactly how he joined the chapter, but he found himself assigned to leadership positions within the first decade of his service as a Neophyte-Sniper in the Scout Cohorts. After banishing his first Neverborn with a well aimed shot to the braincase of the mortal form of a Bloodletter during the Helleaters Uprising of Sondarr III, he was fast tracked into the Rite of Purification 3 years earlier than normal after only 27 years of service in the Scout Cohorts.

From there, he rapidly mastered the use of the Heavy Bolter in the Devastator Cohort and quickly graduated to the Assault Cohort where he showed a remarkable aptitude for both swordsmanship, maneuver warfare, and leadership. He quickly rose to Decanus (Sergeant), and then onto the 4th Tactical Cohort, where he became well known for his propensity to lead boarding and orbital assault actions in the first wave, always securing his tactical objectives even when far outnumbered by enemies. He was quickly noticed by the Centurio of the 1st Praetorian (Veteran) Cohort and served briefly as a Vanguard Veteran before being promoted to Praetorian Lictor Honour Guard before his 140th birthday (and then the Lictor-Fortissimo, the Chapter Champion, by 151). Groomed for leadership by Aureus Magnus - himself more of an unwilling holder of the office of Legatus chosen for his spiritual purity and scholarly acumen that made for an excellent daemon hunter - foresaw that the end of the 41st millennium would require a leader who could lead the chapter from the tip of its sword, and ensured Aurelian had known enough to manage the responsibilities of the office years before he died to a Ezekanekh Monolith's Particle Whip defending a world a single sub-sector over from the chapter homeworld of Azuran.

Since his election by the chapter's Council of Lords (the head of each of the five specialized officer Households in a Codex-inspired chapter) in accordance with Aureus' wishes, he has only proven their decision wise. Having won tens of wars, and losing only a handful of battles - he has nevertheless held a firm grip on modesty. To outsiders, he is particularly balanced and measured in his speech and conduct for a lord of the Adeptus Astartes. Within him, though, whirls a storm of worry, regret, and pain over the millions of Imperials he has seen fall around him in his crusade to end the threat of Chaos to the Imperium of Man. In his heart, he knows there is no end for him but that found in battle. His crusade will never end, and he embraces this fact. He has resolved to stand firm with his shield to protect his chapter, the Imperium, and all loyal members of humanity to the last.