Crusade Lore 3: Iconoclasts and Deceivers

INCOMING ASTROPATHIC TRANSMISSION

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+ + + + + + +TRANSMITTED: Scintilla, Calixis Sector 
+ + + + + + + + +RECEIVED: Karina Aeshma, Personal Astropath to Inquisitor Elam Grest.
+ + + + + + +DESTINATION:  Inquisitor Elam Grest, Black Templars Strike Cruiser Volsung, Calixis Sector
+ + + + +  + + + + + + DATE: 9.850.053.M42
+ + + + TELEPATHIC DUCT: Garand Helfar, Personal Astropath to Lord Inquisitor Valac.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + REF: INQ//440156.55//OH
+ + + + + + + + + +AUTHOR: Lord Inquisitor Valac, Ordo Hereticus
+ + +  + + + + + + SUBJECT:  Rebellion in the Calixis Sector
+ + + + + + + + + THOUGHT:  “There are no miracles, there are only men.” – Saint Sabbat

Crusade Lore Part 1: Mourning and Retribution
Crusade Lore Part 2: Marshals and Martyrs
Crusade Lore Part 3: Iconoclasts and Deceivers
Crusade Lore Part 4: Into the Outer Dark
 

Inquisitor Grest,

I have received your transmissions, and I must believe that the casual familiarity forming between yourself and your quarries is nothing more than investigative technique and not fraternization. The latter would be disturbing, to say the least. 

However, the information in your last communique did prove to be beneficial in establishing a link between various investigations that this office has been conducting in the Calixis Sector. Typically, I prefer not to overly share information between investigators in my service, but I believe this case warrants it. Inquisitors Barq’ch, Velissa, Raeph and others have all independently reported heretical cults during their own investigations. These cults seem to share very little in common with each other. And what else would you expect of heretics? The faithless have no foundation, no core of unity, no exemplars of perfection to aspire to. That said, there is one common thread of similarity that runs through these cults. Their rites of initiation all involve the killing of a figure of Imperial authority, and presenting their severed hand to a member of the cult. 

The detail of the hand of Byrenus in your last transmission, in correlation with other investigations under my command, has lead me to believe that these cults are part of a broader conspiracy against the Imperium. I believe the cult has been fomenting heresy in the sector for quite some time. But the timeline of events leads me to conclude that the fall of Valais IV, as you described it to me, is the origin of the practice of presenting a severed hand as initiation in to the cult. If I am correct, that would mean that we are dealing with something that goes beyond rebellion and insurrection. With the Word Bearers at the heart of the conspiracy, one must assume the threat to be daemonic in nature. Moreover, this particular warband of Word Bearers seems to be so adept at establishing secret cults that they have even been successful in spreading their heresy among loyal chapters of the Adeptus Astartes.

This brings me at last to my reason for writing. Do not become complacent. Do not waver in your resolve. Do not become too comfortable among the Black Templars of Calixis Crusade. Their unorthodox beliefs which you described to me may be dismissed as the usual quirks we see among the various chapter cults of the Adeptus Astartes. Or they may be something more. Any deviation is suspect.  Remain vigilant.

In His Name,
Lord Inquisitor Valac

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