Graeyl Herek
Graeyl Herek is a pirate lord of the Red Corsairs.[1a]
After losing his hand and prized Daemonic Blade to the Black Templars Castellan Morrigan, Herek became determined to hunt down the loyalist Space Marines and reclaim his possession. During the battle, Herek's forces killed Morrigan's mentor, Bohemund, and took his head, earning the hatred of the Templars.[1a]
As the two sides continually hunted one another; their battle came to a climax above Kamidar, where Battle Group Praxis of Indomitus Crusade Fleet Primus was battling the Ironhold Protectorate. As the two battled, Herek reacquired his Daemon Weapon, which was revealed to be an Athame blade. He and his subordinate Rathek then stepped through the portal and onto the Praxis flagship Fell Lord, capturing it and entering the Warp.[1b]
In the aftermath of the battle, Herek stood before Abaddon and offered up the Athame blade.[1c] Herek and his surviving warriors were subsequently pursued by Mechanicum stalkers as he sought to become a member of the Hand of Abaddon.[2a] Guided by visions, he became obsessed with reaching a place dubbed Behethramog, and in the process became trapped in an endless desert world of the Great Rift.[2b] Only through the mass sacrificing of his own Cultist followers was Herek able to finally penetrate the desert and reach its central pit, descending below into a realm known as the Abyssal Nadir. It proved to be a portal to the realm of Vashtorr the Arkifane, and within Herek found the Warsmith Bezighor the Errant. After defeating the ancient Warsmith in a challenge, Herek finally came before the entrance to the Behethramog. Realizing he had to prove his devotion, Herek sacrificed Rathek before entering.[2c]
Entering the chamber, Herek came before a great anvil, revealing he had been carrying the missing Shards of Erebus since previously meeting the Hand of Abaddon member Augury. He offered up the shards before the anvil, and the shards were reforged into a new Anathame dubbed Culler. However, he was subsequently betrayed by Augury and Tharador Yheng, who took the new sword for themselves.[2d]
Herek survived and was healed by his Apothecary Vassago Kurgos. The two vowed to take back the blade.[2d]
