Leonid Rostov
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | A Witch's Fate (Short Story) |
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Avenging Son (Novel) |
 Inquisitor Leonid Rostov[3] | |
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| Born | c. M41 |
| Active Period | M41 - Present |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation(s) | Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos |
| Affiliation(s) | |
Leonid Rostov[1] is a Psyker Ordo Xenos Inquisitor, who took part in the Indomitus Crusade.[2a]
Contents
History
As a youth, Rostov was an Unsanctioned Psyker who was taken at the age of 10 by the League of Blackships. The last memory Rostov had of his old life, was tearfully crying out for his mother, as he was captured. Rostov vowed not to show such emotional weakness ever again[1] and kept a stern and perpetually calm attitude.[2a] He developed a powerful array of abilities under the Imperium's training. This included being able to shroud his presence, instantly learn the value of a person's soul, and read the memories of those under torture. Though this came at the cost of feeling any pain inflicted upon the tortured person and having his memories open to them as well. Using this last ability left Rostov feeling tainted, though, and increased his hatred of being a psyker. It was only through prayer that he was able to cleanse himself, which Rostov undertook before and after using that ability.[1]
He would go on to serve as an Interrogator for the Inquisitor Lord Jeren Dyre for 20 years afterwards. During that time, Rostov not only became Dyre's protege, but the Inquisitor Lord also considered him a son.[1] At around his 30 years old[2a], Rostov was so well experienced that Dyre had offered to make him an Inquisitor, but the Interrogator refused. Rostov claimed he still needed several more years to serve beside Dyre[1] and aided the Inquisitor Lord in investigating a Blackstone trading network. The Adeptus Mechanicus were the main buyers of the Blackstone and Dyre secretly began observing them to ensure they respected the Lex Imperialis. This led to Dyre and his retinue executing several rogue Magi, but soon a number of Chaos Cults began claiming a greater portion of the Blackstone. The Inquisitor Lord would destroy the Cults with the aid of the Ordo Hereticus, though they rarely were able to recover the Blackstone itself. After this continued to happen, Dyre theorized that someone was organising the Cults from behind the scenes. He soon pieced together that the Cult's Blackstone was being used to create a giant device that would be able to increase the size of the Great Rift. In order to confirm this, Dyre had several of the Blackstone Cultists interrogated by Rostov who confirmed Dyre's theory. A figure known as the Hand had been constructing a Blackstone device to expand the Great Rift, but it was now nearly completed. Worse still, it was to be given to the Crusade of Slaughter to use, as they rampaged across the Imperium.[2a]
After uncovering such a dire threat, Dyre began researching ways to disable the Blackstone device and learned of a Xenos artefact that would succeed in that task. However it was possessed by the Hive Noble Candor Estrell and was hidden somewhere within a labyrinth located in her fortress spire. Dyre had no direct proof of the artefact's existence, so he could not simply demand that Estrell give it to him. Nor could Dyre try to claim it by force, as he did not know where the artefact was located and this would just give Estrell time to have it spirited away. So Dyre and retinue waited and studied Estrell's spire instead and they soon learned that an Unsanctioned Psyker, named Saquie, made frequent visits to the Noble's spire through the use of secret tunnels. Saquie was being paid by Estrell to provide psychometric readings of the Xenos artefacts the Noble collected, which included the artefact needed by Dyre. This led the Inquisitor Lord to have Saquie captured, but Psyker refused to tell them what they wanted to known. With time growing short, Dyre ordered Rostov to do what was necessary to gain the location of the artefact and how to escape from Estrell's labyrinth. Rostov succeeded at the cost of Saquie's life, but the Unsanctioned Psyker had also been a powerful seer who could see the future. As Rostov used his psychic abilities to draw out the information they needed, he learned the heavy price Dyre would pay to claim the artefact. Estrell was aware that Saquie had been kidnapped and, while she did not know who had taken the Psyker, the Noble had her security forces laying in wait within the labyrinth. If Dyre went to take the arterfact, then the Inquisitor Lord and his retinue would be ambushed by Estrell's forces. In the ensuing battle, Dyre would die along with most of his retinue. Rostov told the Inquisitor Lord of what he had learned, but when Dyre knew they would succeed in escaping with the Xenos artefact, the Inquisitor Lord became resolute to continue. He however made sure to promote Rostov to the rank of Inquisitor, before they made preparations to raid Estrell's spire.[1]
Once they later arrived within the Noble's labyrinth, Rostov used Saquie's memories to locate where the Xenos artefact was placed. However, just as her vision had shown Rostov, they were ambushed by Estrell's security forces as they attempted to take the artefact. Dyre was then the first to be struck down by las fire, as his retinue began to defend themselves. The Inquisitor Lord's wounds were fatal and as he lay dying, Dyre was comforted by both Rostov and the Chikanti Xenos Cheelche, who he had a close friendship with. Rostov blamed himself for the Inquisitor Lord's fate, but Dyre stated it was his decision to go, despite knowing what would happen. The Inquisitor Lord then told Rostov to take command of the retinue and get them to safety, before Dyre then died of his wounds. As Rostov and the retinue began making their escape with the artefact, Cheelche asked if they would take the Inquisitor Lord's body with them. Rostov told the Xenos no, as Dyre's soul was already by the Emperor's side and he wanted Estrell to know she had killed an Inquisitor. Once the Inquisition learned of Dyre's death at her hands, the Noble would suffer their retribution. They then left and despite suffering several more losses, Saquie's vision was true and the remaining retinue was able to escape with the artefact.[1]
Afterwards, Rostov and his retinue, began searching for the Crusade of Slaughter's Blackstone device and followed the Crusade as it invaded Fomor III. Even as the world began to be overrun, Rostov's investigation bore fruit and he learned where the device was located. With the aid of Commodore Eloise Athagey, Rostov and his retinue were able to evacuate the doomed world and he brought his evidence to Indomitus Crusade Fleet Tertius's Fleetmaster Cassandra VanLeskus. With information provided by Rostov, the Indomitus Crusade learned that the Crusade of Slaughter intended to use Blackstone device to expand the Great Rift into Segmentum Solar. In the subsequent Battle of the Machorta Sound, Rostov and his retinue joined Commodore Eloise Athagey's forces as they attacked the asteroid that contained the Blackstone device. Alongside the White Consuls Captain Messinius and his Unnumbered Sons, Rostov was able to board the asteroid and sabotage the Blackstone device, with the Necron artifact[2a], taken from Candor Estrell.[1] Afterwards Rostov was able to use his psychic abilities to learn information on the mysterious Hand of Abaddon from a captured Word Bearers Dark Apostle, taken from the asteroid.[2a]
Continuing his hunt for the Hand of Abaddon, Rostov confronted the self-proclaimed Hand Tenebrus during the Battle of Srinagar. During the battle Rostov asked Tenebrus if he was the Hand, and the Sorcerer said he was. Rostov doubted this, but was forced to flee from Tenebrus. He later revealed that the forces of Chaos may seek the Star Child.[4]
Rostov continues his hunt for the enigmatic Hand of Abaddon, leading him to become embroiled in the Battle of Garrovire.[5a] After the battle, he manages to forge a loose coalition with the Ultramarines 6th Company under Lieutenant Ferren Areios, the Mordian 84th, the Rogue Trader Katla Helvintr, and even the Leagues of Votann Omrigar Kindred.[5b] Together, they are able to finally locate the Hand's base, a Blackstone Fortress at the Stygius Gilt. In the ensuing battle, Rostov takes part in the boarding operation[5c] and is nearly killed by the Hand member dubbed the Scion of Plagues before being saved by Magda Kesh, who transforms into a Living Saint.[5d] At the end of the battle, he manages to reach the Hand's command center aboard the Fortress only to find that Tenebrus was in fact one of several members to bear the title of Hand and the majority of them have escaped. He also discovers that the Hand had escaped with the reforged Anathame.[5e]
Rostov has also written an extensive report about the various Canoptek Scarabs, the Necron possess.[3]
Known Retinue
- Cheelche - Chikanti Xenos[2b] equipped with a Tau Pulse Rifle. Though blunt and rude to even Space Marines[2a], she is extremely loyal to Rostov[2b]. She originally served Inquisitor Lord Jeren Dyre.[1]
- Benidei Antoniato - Veteran Guardsman who serves as Rostov's Excruciator[2b]. He originally served Inquisitor Lord Jeren Dyre in the same position.[1]
- Hayden Lacrante - Imperial Guard Lieutenant[2b] of the 47th Illusiti Pioneers Regiment and a survivor of the fall of Fomor III. He was recruited by Rostov after the Inquisitor's psyker abilities led him to see great worth in the Lieutenant's soul.[2c]
See also
Sources
- 1: A Witch's Fate (Short Story)
- 2: Avenging Son (Novel):
- 3: Imperium 09 — Canoptek Scarabs
- 4: Throne of Light (Novel) - Chapter 42
- 5: Hand of Abaddon (Novel)
