{{GalaxyPortal}}{{Spoiler | source = Death or Glory (Novel)}}{{Spoiler | source = Duty Calls (Novel)}}{{Spoiler | source = Cain's Last Stand (Novel)}}The '''Shadowlight''' was an ancient [[Xenos]] artifact created by an unknown race (presumably the [[AncientOld Ones|Ancients]]s) long before the origins of [[Mankind]]. It was said to be as old as the [[Necrons]], so ancient that it was only known as a legend among the [[Eldar]]^{{{Fn|2a, }}{{Fn|2b}}}.

The exact purpose of ==Overview==In appearance the xenos machine Shadowlight was unknowna small, although one researcher theorized flat slab of dark stone that , nondescript though it was able , gave off an unmistakeable erieness. It was apparently intended to alter the fabric be part of reality itselfa larger machine, created by the Ancients as a weapon several parts of last resort which were scattered along with it in their war against "The Valley Of Daemons" on the planet [[C'tanPerlia]]^3b{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|2d}}.

The Shadowlight had a "side effect" that made it extremely dangerous: contact with the artifact could awaken the powers of latent [[Psykers]], and boost the powers exact purpose of active Psykers, making them extremely powerful. However, not every psyker, latent or otherwise, survived contact with the artifact, and non-psykers who touched it without protection died almost instantly^2d. Based on thisxenos machine was unknown, although one Mechanicus [[Tech Priest]] researcher theorized that it was designed able to alter the fabric of reality itself, created by the Ancients as a combined antenna and storage battery, meant to draw on the energies weapon of last resort in their war against the [[WarpC'tan]] and use them to power the primary machine^{{Fn|3b}}.

The Shadowlight was discovered by agents had a "side effect" that made it extremely dangerous: contact with the artifact could awaken the powers of the latent [[Adeptus MechanicusPsykers]] , and boost the [[Ordo Xenos]]powers of active Psykers, who established a secret Mechanicus Shrine in the Valley to study its properties^2amaking them extremely powerful. One of the Tech-PriestsHowever, not every psyker, [[Metheius]]latent or otherwise, believed that survived contact with the Ordo Xenos were blind to the Shadowlight's real potentialartifact, and shared its existence with [[Inquisitor]] [[Ernst Stavros Killiannon-psykers who touched it without protection died almost instantly{{Fn|Killian]] of the [[Ordo Hereticus]]2d}}. Killian believed that with the artifactBased on this, he could create an army of one Mechanicus [[psykersTech Priest]]theorized that it was designed as a combined antenna and storage battery, powerful enough meant to finally overthrow and destroy draw on the forces energies of the [[ChaosWarp]]^2cand use them to power the primary machine{{Fn|3b}}.

During ==History==The Shadowlight was discovered by agents of the [[Siege of PerliaAdeptus Mechanicus]] and the [[Ordo Xenos]], under who established a secret Mechanicus Shrine in the cover Valley to study its properties{{Fn|2a}}. One of the Tech-Priests, [[OrkMetheius]] invasion of the planet, Killian and Methius stormed believed that the Shrine, killed the researchers and stole Ordo Xenos were blind to the Shadowlight's real potential, and shared its existence with the unwitting help of a squad of over-zealous battle-sisters from the [[Adepta SororitasInquisitor]]^2c. [[CommissarErnst Stavros Killian|Killian]] of the [[Ciaphas CainOrdo Hereticus]]. Killian believed that with the artifact, leading he could create an army of refugees across [[psykers]], powerful enough to finally overthrow and destroy the Valley, discovered their handiwork, though he did not know until later who was responsible^1aforces of [[Chaos]]{{Fn|2c}}.

One [[Imperial]] [[psyker]] who examined the artifact later said that, had Killian and Methius continued to study carried out his "imbecilic" scheme, the Shadowlight in secret inside a Sororitas convent on could well have destroyed the entire [[Periremundagalaxy]]. Quite apart from the damage wreaked by these individual psykers, recruiting members of a local their very existence would have invited possession by [[cultist|Chaos cultdaemon]] to serve as "test subjects."^{2cs, 2d} When Cain and Inquisitor acted as a gateway allowing the forces of the [[Amberley VailWarp]] confronted Killian, he attempted to escape with itflow freely into the [[Materium]]. This psyker soberly predicted that, only to inadvertently handle it without protectionin two generations, killing him^2ethe [[Eye of Terror]] would expand and swallow the rest of the Galaxy.{{Fn|3b}}

The Shadowlight was returned to During the [[Siege of Perlia ]], under the cover of the [[Ork]] invasion of the planet, Killian and Methius stormed the Shrine was rebuilt, killed the researchers and stole the Shadowlight, with the unwitting help of a squad of over-zealous battle-sisters from the [[Adepta Sororitas]]{{Fn|2c}}. Over the next few decades[[Commissar]] [[Ciaphas Cain]], several more components leading an army of refugees across the machine were Valley, discoveredtheir handiwork, and it though he did not know until later who was partially reassembled^{3a, 3b}responsible{{Fn|1}}.

Somehow, the forces of [[Chaos]] learned of Killian and Methius continued to study the Shadowlight and saw the same potential that Killian had, though in reverse. During the secret inside a Sororitas convent on [[13th Black CrusadePeriremunda]], in 999 M41, recruiting members of a local [[Abaddon the Despoilercultist|Chaos cult]] dispatched a small expeditionary force, under the command of Warmaster to serve as "test subjects."{{Fn|2c}}{{Fn|2d}} When Cain and Inquisitor [[VaranAmberley Vail]]confronted Killian, he attempted to escape with it, only to retrieve inadvertently handle it^3a. Cain stopped Varanwithout protection, but the Shadowlight itself was captured by the Necrons^3ckilling him{{Fn|2e}}.

The Shadowlight was returned to Perlia and the Shrine was rebuilt. Over the next few decades, several more components of the machine were discovered, and it was partially reassembled{{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|3b}}. Somehow, the forces of [[Chaos]] learned of the Shadowlight and saw the same potential that Killian had, though in reverse. During the [[13th Black Crusade]], in 999 M41, [[Abaddon the Despoiler]] dispatched a small expeditionary force, under the command of Warmaster [[Varan]], to retrieve it{{Fn|3a}}. Cain stopped Varan, but the Shadowlight itself was captured by the Necrons{{Fn|3c}}. In a private discussion with Vail, Cain softened the loss by reasoning that the Necrons must have feared the Shadowlight, since it was created by their enemies; and for that reason, they likely had no immediate plans to use it against the Imperium. Thus, losing it to them was preferable to losing it to Chaos^{{Fn|3d}}.

*^{{Endn|1}}: [[Death or Glory (Novel)]] – [[Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]]:**a: , Chapter Twenty-One, pppgs. 205-213*²: [[Duty Calls (Novel)]] – '''[[Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus)''' by '''Sandy Mitchell''']]:**a{{Endn|2a}}: Chapter Eleven, pppgs. 343-345**b{{Endn|2b}}: Chapter Twelve, pppgs. 353-354**c{{Endn|2c}}: Chapter Twenty-Four, pppgs. 460-463**d{{Endn|2d}}: Chapter Twenty-Five, pppgs. 467-469**e{{Endn|2e}}: Chapter Twenty-Six, pppgs. 472-478 *³: [[Cain's Last Stand (Novel)]] – '''[[Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus)''' by '''Sandy Mitchell''']]:**a{{Endn|3a}}: Chapter Six, pppgs. 577-581**b{{Endn|3b}}: Chapter Fourteen, pppgs. 646-657**c{{Endn|3c}}: Chapter Twenty-Four, pppgs. 760-761**d{{Endn|3d}}: Chapter Twenty-Five, pppgs. 763-764

[[Category:TechnologyChaos Artifacts]]