Shiban Khan
 Shiban Khan[8] | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | Tachseer Tamu (Former name) |
| Homeworld | Chogoris |
| Born | c. Late M30 |
| Active Period | M30 - ??? |
| Species | Human |
| Type | Astartes |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Affiliation(s) | |
| Succeeded by | Jubal Khan (As Master of the Hunt) |
Shiban Khan was a member of the White Scars during the Great Crusade and early days of the Horus Heresy.[1b]
History
Shiban was born Tamu in the Talskar region of Chogoris, hailing from the Khin-zan Tribe. At 12 years old (8 in Terran years) he was discovered after a local tribal battle by Targutai Yesugei. Upon initiation into the Legion, Tamu changed his name to Shiban and was inducted into the horde of Hasik Noyan-Khan.[1a]
Becoming the Khan of the Legion's Brotherhood of the Storm[1b], Shiban was fiercely loyal to his Primarch Jaghatai Khan. During the Heresy while their Primarch was on Prospero, Shiban discovered a plot by elements of the White Scars led by his friend and frequent brother-in-arms Torghun Khan and Hasik Noyan-Khan to take control of the Legion's fleet and ally with Warmaster Horus.[1c] He led his Brotherhood aboard the Swordstorm to stop the conspirators from linking up with the Death Guard, buying enough time for Jaghatai to make it back to his ship.[1d][1e][1f]
Four years after the events on Prospero, much of Shiban's body was replaced by mechanical parts due to the vicious war of attrition, including his forearms, calves, thighs, and neck, which he dubbed the "Shackles." His men referred to him as "Tachseer" ("Restorer"), and he took many who were loyal from the rebellious brotherhoods under his own command. Shiban was changed over these years, becoming bitter, violent, and losing his signature laughter.[2] His reunion with Torghun Khan during the Scars rendezvous at Dark Glass went poorly when he condemned his former brother as a traitor and attempted to use him as cannon fodder against traitor forces. During the subsequent Battle of Catallus, Shiban was defeated by the Emperor's Children Palatine Blades prefector Ravasch Cario but as the traitor was about to deliver the killing blow, he was overcome by his own Daemonic corruption. The moment gave Shiban the opening he needed to slay the Prefector.[2a]
Later, Shiban took part in the Siege of Terra and was charged with the defenses of the Eternity Wall Spaceport alongside Imperial Fists Captain Camba-Diaz, High Primary Solar General Saul Niborran, and Sisters of Silence Commander Jenetia Krole.[3a] During the battle, Shiban grew close to Imperial Army Captain Al-Nid Nazira. In the final stages of the battle, the Spaceport was overrun by the World Eaters and Shiban became determined to help evacuate some of his Imperial Army comrades. However as the shuttle took off, they were assailed by World Eaters. Though he had taken a vow to never take a step back and die in defense of the Port, Nazira risking his life to save him and the thought of using the shuttle's grav systems to kill many of the traitors spurred Shiban to turn around and make for the craft. Barely fighting off World Eaters to leap onto the flying shuttle, Shiban discovered that Nazira and the pilot were already slain by Bolter fire as the aircraft crashed into the Eternity Wall.[3b]
Shiban survived the crash, but was horrifically wounded and stranded deep from Loyalist lines. Slowly making his way back to the Palace walls, he was plagued by visions of Targutai Yesugei and Torghun Khan.[4a] Shiban eventually came upon a surviving Imperial Army Lieutenant Cole, who was desperately trying to save an abandoned infant. Seeing this act as part of his fate, Shiban pledged to deliver Cole and the infant to the Inner Palace. Fighting through all kinds of Warp-spawned horrors with nothing but a broken metal pole, a badly injured Shiban managed to carrying the dying Cole as well as the infant back to the walls of the Palace.[4d]
Now reunited with his legion, Shiban grimly continued the fight against the traitors while still yearning to speak to his old friend Torghun Khan one last time. He took part in Jaghatai Khan's massive attack to retake the Lion's Gate Spaceport, taking part in the central thrust alongside the Primarch himself.[5a] Charged with taking the Spaceport's anti-ship orbital batteries, Shiban was not present when Jaghatai Khan disappeared following his victory over Mortarion.[5b] Following the Khan's apparent death much of the White Scars initiated a death ritual to seemingly fight to their end. Alongside Ilya Ravallion Shiban was able to organise the surviving officers of the Legion and instead reinforce themselves at the Lion's Gate Spaceport once it was discovered the Primarch was still alive but badly wounded.[5c]
As Sanguinius led the defence of the Eternity Gate, Shiban and his White Scars worked to restore the defences of the Lion's Gate Spaceport. They eventually succeeded, unleashing a punishing anti-orbital bombardment upon the traitor armada that hung over Terra.[6] By this point, Shiban was declared the new Master of the Hunt by the White Scars and fought to defend the retaken Lion's Gate Spaceport.[7]
Shiban survived the Siege, and after the battle had a reunion with Katsuhiro and the baby he had rescued. He arranged arrange for the two be flown from the ruins of the Palace to Katsuhiro's original home in the Dragon Nations.[9] Shortly after, he also bid goodbye to Ilya Ravallion.[9b]
Images
Shiban Khan during the Siege of Terra[4d]
Shiban Khan as the Tachseer[5]
Sources
- 1: Scars (Novel)
- 2: The Path of Heaven (Novel):
- 2a: Chapters 21–25
- 3: Saturnine (Novel):
- 4: Mortis (Novel):
- 5: Warhawk (Novel):
- 6: Echoes of Eternity (Novel), Chapter 35
- 7: The End and the Death: Volume I (Novel), 2:xx
- 8: Horus Heresy Legions saved page, original link: https://www.horusheresylegions.com/horus-heresy-legions-shiban-khan-battle-pass/ (last accessed 31/7/2025)
- 9: Era of Ruin (Anthology)