{{cite}}The '''Shadowlight''' was an old ancient [[Xenos]] artifact created by a an unknown race long before the origins of [[Mankind]]. It was said to be as old as the [[Necrons]], so ancient that it was only known only as a legend among the [[AncientsEldar]]².

The exact purpose of In appearance the machine Shadowlight was unknown but a small, flat slab of dark stone that, nondescript though it was able to influence the [[Warp]] and even turn latent [[Psykers]] into active ones, gave off an unmistakeable erieness. The artifact It was said apparently intended to be as old as the [[Necrons]] and perhaps part of a legend among the [[Eldar]]. It was located larger machine, several parts of which were scattered along with it in the [["The Valley of Of Daemons]] and was studied by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] as well as " on the planet [[Ordo Xenos]]. A rogue [[Inquisitor]] of the [[Imperium of Man]] attempted to use it to create an army of Psykers to use against [[ChaosPerlia]]².

During its studyThe exact purpose of the xenos machine was unknown, but the Shadowlight was able to influence the [[WarmasterWarp]] and had a "side effect" that made it extremely dangerous: contact with the artifact could turn latent [[VaranPsykers]] attempted into active, and extremely powerful, ones. Non-psykers who touched it without protection died almost instantly. Based on this, one Mechanicus [[Tech Priest]] theorized that it was designed as a combined antenna and storage battery, meant to make draw on the energies of the Warp and use of its them to power but was stopped in his plan and the primary machine was later captured by the Necrons.¹².

==Source==*¹:The Shadowlight was discovered by agents of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] and the [[Ordo Xenos]], who established a secret Mechanicus Shrine in the Valley to study its properties. One of the Tech-Priests, [[CainMethius]], believed that the Ordo Xenos were blind to the Shadowlight's Last Stand (Novel)real potential, and shared its existence with [[Inquisitor]] [[Ernst Stavros Killian|Killian]] of the [[Ordo Hereticus]]. Killian believed that with the artifact, he could create an army of [[psykers]] by , powerful enough to finally overthrow and destroy the forces of [[Sandy MitchellChaos]]².

{{stub}}During the [[First Siege of Perlia]], under the cover of the [[Ork]] invasion of the planet, Killian and Methius stormed the Shrine, killed the researchers and stole the Shadowlight, with the unwitting help of a squad of over-zealous battle-sisters from the [[Adepta Sororitas]]². [[Commissar]] [[Ciaphas Cain]], leading an army of refugees across the Valley, discovered their handiwork, though he did not know until later who was responsible¹. Killian and Methius continued to study the Shadowlight in secret inside a Sororitas [[convent]] on [[Periremunda]], recruiting members of a local [[cultist|Chaos cult]] to serve as "test subjects." When Cain and Inquisitor [[Amberley Vail]] confronted Killian, he attempted to escape with it, only to inadvertently handle it without protection, killing him². 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 reassembled³. 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. Cain stopped Varan, but the Shadowlight itself was captured by the Necrons³. ==Sources==*¹: [[Death or Glory (Novel)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]]*²: [[Duty Calls (Novel)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]]*³: [[Cain's Last Stand (Novel)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]]