Mephiston is the Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels and the only Blood Angel ever to overcome the Red Thirst. Before taking the name of Mephiston and the title of Lord of Death, he was originally known as Brother Calistarius.
Brother Calistarius
Originally known as Calistarius, he was a Blood Angel Librarian of some ability and exceptional strength of character.
While holding the rank of Lexicanium, Librarian Calistarius was present during the boarding of the Space Hulk Sin of Damnation as a honorary member of the Blood Angel's 1st Company.4 As the name and the similar personal bannerTemplate:C indicate, it could be the same person.
Rebirth
When fighting as part of the relief force for Hades Hive during the Second War for Armageddon campaign, he became a victim of the Red Thirst. Inducted into the Death Company he took part in the assault on an Ecclesiarchy building, and was one of many trapped inside when the building collapsed during the battle. For seven days and seven nights Calistarius lay trapped in the rubble, teetering on the edge of death and madness. But somehow, rather than succumbing to the Red Thirst, he managed to conquer it. By sheer strength of will he was able to suppress and hold in check the feelings of rage and the desire for blood, and in doing so he became something more. On the seventh night he burst free of his rocky tomb, reborn as Mephiston, the Lord of Death.
His resurrection did not go unwitnessed. By this time Hades lay once more in the hands of the Imperium, but Orks still roamed the ruins. As Mephiston heaved debris aside from his tomb, the sound of tortured stone drew the attention of one such band. Weaponless, and with his armour shredded and mangled, Mephiston must have seemed easy prey, but nothing could have been further from the truth. His gene-seed, dormant these many long years, had awakened and wrought further changes, granting exceptional strength and vigor. Moving with a speed the Orks could not match, Mephiston unleashed a flurry of attacks, every blow pulverizing flesh and shattering bone. Five Orks died in as many seconds, and a dozen more swiftly followed. The greenskins never stood a chance, but they were as stubborn as Mephiston was determined. It was not until the reborn angel punched clean through the biggest Ork's chest and tore out his heart that the survivors fled. His ruined armour slick with the blood of his foes, Mephiston began the long walk to the imperial lines.5
M'kar
In the year of 977.M41, the Daemon M'kar trapped Mephiston in the crystal caves of Solon V. He then attempted to lure Mephiston into joining Chaos as a Renegade, claiming that Mephiston is already firmly on the path to Daemonhood. Mephiston rejected his captor's claims and throttled the life out of M'kar5, though he was reborn.6
Wargear
Mephiston is armed with a Force sword, Plasma pistol and wears Artificer armor, incorporating his ornate Psychic hood. Overcoming the Red Thirst enabled Mephiston to release his full psychic potential and he is able to call on any number of psychic powers related to the Blood Angels.3
Images
Mephiston miniature
Calistarius miniature from Space Hulk (3rd Edition)
Sources
- 1: Codex: Angels of Death (2nd Edition)
- 2: Codex: Blood Angels (3rd Edition)
- 3: Codex: Blood Angels (4th Edition), p.7
- 4: Space Hulk Mission Book (3rd Edition), p.45
- Template:C: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition)
- 6 Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), p.28