"The shadow of Chaos might be long and it might be deep, but do not fear it, Children of the Emperor. It shall never consume the shining pearl that is Salandraxis. Through me, the Emperor resides upon it."
- —Saint Lozepath
Saint Lozepath was a Living Saint of the Imperium and the protector of the Shrine World of Salandraxis. He was ultimately slain by Khârn the Betrayer during the 13th Black Crusade when a force of Khornate Chaos Space Marine warbands drawn from the World Eaters and the Black Legion's Hounds of Abaddon assaulted Salandraxis so that Khârn might claim the Living Sant's skull as his latest trophy for the Blood God.
History[]
Lozepath's Crusade[]
During the opening stages of the 13th Black Crusade, Saint Lozepath of Salandraxis set forth to bring the Emperor's wrath to the Archenemy. His closest advisor, Cardinal Volturn Pradillo, had begged him not to leave the planet, but Lozepath strongly believed in taking the fight to Chaos rather than waiting for it to come to them.
Served by the Sisters of Battle of the Order of the Divine Perfection and bolstered by the Space Marines of the Angels Eradicant Chapter, Lozepath's Imperial Crusade left a bloody trail of destruction in its wake. It was only after his great victory near the Cadian Gate, five standard years after his holy war had begun, that Lozepath decided to return to Salandraxis.
His divine power had been integral to the defence of the planet, for while it was heavily fortified, Lozepath provided as much physical protection as he did spiritual symbolism. Without him, Salandraxis was vulnerable and incomplete. His return, triumphant from his victories around the Eye of Terror, would send a powerful message to friend and foe alike. Even in the jaws of Abaddon's relentless campaign, the Emperor's love for His people was such that He would jeopardise all to return one of His blessed sons to his rightful place...
Slaughter at Salandraxis[]
"A deep rumble shook the ground and Gaul craned over to the High Temple doors. They had opened, and between the fallen of the defenders and invaders stood a dazzling, beautiful sight -- Lozepath, the Living Saint and holy protector of Salandraxis. In one hand he held a white-hot glowing blade and in the other an aquila-emblazoned shield. His entire body was pulsating with a golden aura, and through the shimmering energy field, Gaul could see a look of absolute malevolence on his face."
- —Chapter Master Solucious Gaul of the Angels Eradicant witnesses Saint Lozepath on the field of battle.
The Adeptus Astartes of the Angels Eradicant successfully escorted the Living Saint to his homeworld, despite the loss of three of their cruisers to a World Eaters warband. Upon his arrival, Lozepath was greeted by thousands of fawning supplicants, great crowds who wished to gaze upon one of the God-Emperor's holy avatars.
There were some, however, who believed that Lozepath was in great danger, chief among them Chapter Master Solucious Gaul of the Angels Eradicant. The earlier attack on the Living Saint's entourage had made them fear he was being targeted by the enemies of the Imperium. Within Lozepath's golden throne-room, Cardinal Pradillo expressed these concerns.
The Living Saint's response was quick and brutal. A blast of holy light, its intensity rivalling that of the sun, filled the throne room. When the cardinal passed through the doors of the cathedral once more, his eyes were gone, burned from their sockets. He had dared to question the God-Emperor's will and had been justly punished for his sin.
Yet doom finally came to the sacred world of Salandraxis. Following the escort of Lozepath back to Salandraxis, the Shrine World was assaulted by warbands of the World Eaters and the Black Legion's Hounds of Abaddon when it was caught in the oncoming wave of the 13th Black Crusade. Warbands of Heretic Astartes dedicated to Khorne filled its primary shrine city and claimed skulls for their Dark God by the thousands. In the High Temple of the Emperor, Khârn the Betrayer finally faced his trophy, the Living Saint Lozepath.
Lozepath proved to be a truly mighty foe, even for the chosen Champion of Khorne. He was capable of unleashing blasts of holy power that sent squads of Heretic Astartes flying through the air, sweeping them away like insects, while broiling beams of light fired from his glowing sword disintegrated his foes.
Further surrounded by a near-impenetrable aura of holy energy, he was able to weather the most devastating of attacks, yet the Betrayer ultimately proved triumphant in claiming the Living Saint's skull in the name of the Blood God. By causing a titanic statue of the God-Emperor to fall upon Lozepath, temporarily weakening his protective aura, Kharn was granted the precious moments he needed to slay the vaunted protector of Salandraxis.
Sources[]
- The Red Path (Novel) by Chris Dows, Ch. 8