Erasmus Tycho
 Erasmus Tycho of the Blood Angels | |
|---|---|
| Homeworld | Baal[6b] |
| Born | c. M41[6b] |
| Active Period | M41 - 998.M41 |
| Death | Third War for Armageddon, 998.M41[2] |
| Cause of Death | Killed by Orks[2] |
| Species | Human |
| Type | Astartes |
| Gender | Male |
| Relatives | Sanguinius ("Father" via Gene-Seed) |
| Occupation(s) | Captain of the Blood Angels 3rd Company |
| Affiliation(s) | |
| Succeeded by | Galan Machiavi (as Captain of the 3rd Company) |
Erasmus Tycho was the Captain of the Blood Angels 3rd Company.[5][6b]
Contents
Biography
Second War for Armageddon
Tycho was part of the Blood Angels intervention force during the Second War for Armageddon in 941.M41, assisting in the relief operations at Hive Acheron and Hive Hades.[11] He took charge of the 3rd Company when his predecessor was slain during the Second War for Armageddon. Tycho nearly suffered the same fate himself during a clash between his troops and a small Ork warband in the jungles that separated Armageddon Prime and Armageddon Secundus. Early in the combat, which the Blood Angels eventually won, Tycho was the victim of a deadly psychic attack by an Ork Weirdboy and was left for dead.[1][6b]
Somehow, Tycho managed to survive, although the after-effects of the terrible mental assault resulted in half of his face being paralyzed into a horrible rictus grin. The Blood Angels' fine aesthetic taste and appreciation of artistic and beautiful things is well known, so for them injuries of this type are almost worse than death. Tycho had a special mask made by the Blood Angels' most revered artificer in order to hide the disfigurement of his features, but maintained an almost obsessive hatred for the Ork race.[1][6b]
Despite his disfigurement, Tycho conducted several brilliant campaigns as leader of the 3rd Company, and many regarded him as Dante's likely successor as Chapter Master. Yet he continued to brood on his injury, and could not bear to stay at the fortress-monastery on Baal, with its majestic architecture and beautiful artworks, for any length of time, and Dante reluctantly assigned him to increasingly dangerous battle-missions, with increasing frequency.[6b] During the war to stop Hive Fleet Jourmungandr, his reckless tactics led many Sanguinary Priests to question his sanity.[7]
Taladorn
In 969.M41[10e] the Blood Angels, led by Tycho, responded to distress signals from the planet Taladorn. When the Imperial Fists arrived they were already engaging the Iron Warriors in ship to ship combat, and had engaged in boarding actions.[10a] Later in the battle, following Tor Garadon's request for assistance, Tycho went down to the planet behind an Ultramarine force and unleashed his Death Company forces on the planet. Darnath Lysander, who was leading the Imperial Fist forces, did not talk to Tycho or Sicarius for the remainder of the campaign[10b]
Fall of Malodrax
In 971.M41[10e] The Imperial Fists determined the location of the Warsmith Shon'tu, and Lysander had sent invitations to Tycho and Sicarius to meet with them. Lysander wouldn't say that he was asking for their help, instead saying he offered them a chance at Vengeance. Tycho joked that he couldn't deny Sicarius the honour of fighting beside them again, which seemed to annoy him.[10c]
At the start of the battle Tycho was onboard the Phalanx alongside the Imperial Fists and Sicarius. Both he and Sicarius said they'd dedicate their forces to a boarding action against the war barque Tamunash while the imperial fists went planetside. Once on board Tycho and his Blood Angels fought against Ork forces, eventually reinforced by Garadon. After the defeat of the Orks Iron Warriors arrived, Garadon wanted to stay and fight, but Tycho had him take his forces deeper to destroy whatever was blocking their comms so they'd be able to withdraw, he and the Blood Angels stayed to fight the Iron Warriors.[10d]
Third War for Armageddon
During the Third War for Armageddon, the Chaplains noticed a familiar gleam in Tycho's eye. They knew when they spoke to him that he was seeing visions of the final battles of Sanguinius and was hard-pressed to tell them apart from reality. Chaplain Vermento's report was:
Since his grievous wounding at the battle for Armageddon, Tycho has become increasingly violent of temperament and attitude. It is my strongest recommendation to assign Brother-Captain Tycho to active battle duty permanently.[3]
Tycho was inducted into the Death Company and he asked to lead the assault on the Ork-held defences of Hive Tempestora. Records show how he fought with the fury and skill of Sanguinius himself, unstoppable amidst the sea of Orks, enduring wounds that would kill a normal man outright.[6b]
The wounds took their toll upon Tycho but his spirit remained strong and loyal unto his death. In his final moment Tycho was heard across battlefield shouting "For the Deus Sanguinius!".[2] Tycho fell in battle with the Orc Warlord when he ripped his throat out with his gauntlet.[8] Tycho's sacrifice enabled the Blood Angels to take the position the Orks had defended so fiercely.[2]
Legacy
Tycho was succeeded as Captain of the 3rd Company by Galan Machiavi.[6a]
The Blood Angels warship Tycho was named after Captain Tycho. A portrait of the deceased hero lies over the entrance of the ship's chapel.[4] His story serves as a grim reminder to the whole chapter that even the best and brightest of them are not immune from the Black Rage.[6b]
Wargear
Tycho wore Artificer armour incorporating an Iron Halo and carried Blood Song (a special combi-meltagun), along with frag and krak grenades. He was also equipped with digital weapons which made his close combat attacks especially devastating.[6b]
The gauntlet he once wore is now a Blood Angels relic known as the Dead Man's Hand.[8]
Images
Erasmus Tycho, pre-Black Rage
Erasmus Tycho, Death Company
Trivia
 |
- Tycho appeared in the first battle report for the Second Edition of Warhammer 40,000 in which the Blood Angels player named his general "Tycho". Tycho was armed with his now characteristic weapons of a Bolter-Meltagun and the digi-lasers in the gauntlet on his left hand. During the course of the battle Tycho succumbed to a psychic blast from an Ork Weirdboy, and in game terms "killed". This was later incorporated into the character's background, having him surviving the attack, but grievously wounded.
- Though his character history listed him as deceased, Tycho was still a playable character as of the 5th Edition, which featured two character profiles for him, one for before his induction into the Death Company, and one for after.[6b]
Sources
 |
- 1: Codex: Angels of Death (2nd Edition),
[Help] - 2: Chapter Approved 2001, pg. 25
- 3: Codex: Blood Angels (4th Edition), pg. 6
- 4: Black Tide (Novel), [Help]
- 5: Blood Angels: Character Focus at games-workshop.com
- 6: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition):
- 7: Codex: Blood Angels (7th Edition) — A Chronicle of Heroes
- 8: Warhammer Community: Blood Angels Lore Focus – The Flaw (posted 20/11/2020) (last accessed 20 November 2020)
- 9: Warhammer Community Captain Tycho Memorial (last accessed 31 August 2023)
- 10: Sentinels of Terra - A Codex: Space Marines Supplement (6th Edition):
- 11: Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon: Act 1: Invasion: "Final stand at Acheron" and Act 2: Turning the Tide: "Relief Operation"
