Pedro Kantor
"We have been wounded sorely. Yet still we stand, with fire in our eyes and valour in our hearts. Let them think us beaten. We shall teach them otherwise."[4a]
 Pedro Kantor[7]] | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | Praetor Encarmine[10a] Lord Hellblade[6a] |
| Homeworld | Unknown |
| Born | c. M41 |
| Active Period | M41 - Present |
| Species | Human |
| Type | Astartes |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Affiliation(s) | |
Pedro Kantor is the 29th and current Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists[6c]. He has served as Chapter Master through the darkest period in the Chapter's history, leading the Crimson Fists through the near-destruction of their Chapter during the Invasion of Rynn's World by Orks, and guided its subsequent rebuilding. Roboute Guilliman later bestowed upon him the title of Praetor Encarmine, deeming himself to be in the presence of a true hero of the Imperium after the defence of Rynn's World against Chaos forces. Guilliman thus charged him with the protection and fortification of the entire Loki Sector[10b].
Biography
Pedro Kantor is a stoic and solemn leader whose decisions are guided by tactical analysis rather than pride or favouritism. He has been compared to Alexis Polux, the first Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists, with his battle-brothers referring to him as "Polux reborn"[6e]. When faced with the near-destruction of his Chapter, Kantor chose pragmatic rebuilding over a vainglorious last Crusade, embracing the lessons of Polux and moulding the Crimson Fists into a guerrilla force without ready comparison[10b]. This willingness to adapt, acknowledging that the Codex Astartes was written for full-strength Chapters operating under ideal conditions[2a], sets him apart from the rigid stubbornness often associated with the sons of Rogal Dorn.
The earliest record of Kantor was during the Battle of Melchitt Sound, when he was a Sergeant, leading a boarding party where he disabled Da Growla, an Ork Kill Kroozer. With the vessel disabled, the Crimson Fists Strike Cruiser, The Crusader, was able to scatter the fleet[4b]. He would continue to rise in rank over the next 200 years, often side by side with the legendary Captain Alessio Cortez. They both participated in campaigns such as Steel Cross, the defence of Fortress Maladon and the Kardian Campaign[9].
He was promoted to the Chapter's 29th[6b] Chapter Master in 900.M41 and was one of the few surviving Crimson Fists when the Arx Tyrannus was destroyed during the Ork Invasion of Rynn's World in 989.M41. Kantor was on the outskirts of the monastery doing routine inspection, and he quickly gathered up the survivors and marched to New Rynn City, a trek that took ten days. Here they linked up with the other Crimson Fists survivors and the Rynn's Guard[4b], managing to stave off the invasion after a furious, 18-month siege behind the city's walls. The siege was broken by a relief force of two thousand warships, plus elements of four Titan Legions and six Space Marine Chapters, backed by hundreds of thousands of Astra Militarum troops[6d].
The decision to conserve one's forces rather than strike at an opponent with all the might one can muster is a difficult one for a proud Space Marine. A bold military operation would probably have destroyed any hopes of rebuilding the Chapter, so Kantor had to use his forces in smaller operations where the elite Space Marines could inflict maximum damage for a minimal loss of manpower. Even after winning the war, Kantor had to do his utmost to keep the High Lords of Terra from disbanding the Chapter due to the extensive losses[4c]. A mere decade after Waaagh! Snagrod’s defeat, however, he had managed to rebuild his Chapter to nearly five full companies[10a].
Unfortunately history seemed doomed to repeat itself; Kantor would once again have to lead his Chapter in the defence of their Homeworld, this time against Daemons, led by the Daemon Prince, Rhaxor. Seeing all he had worked for coming undone, he threw himself into the defence like a man possessed and led three spearheads to drive back the invaders[10b]. He and his Chapter were once again saved, however, this time by the arrival of Roboute Guilliman and his Indomitus Crusade who scattered Rhaxor's host[10a]. When Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade made first planetfall, and the two met, there was not one inch of Kantor's armour not slicked in blood. Deeming himself to be in the presence of a true hero of the Imperium, the Primarch bestowed upon Kantor the title of Praetor Encarmine and charged him with the protection and fortification of not only Rynn's World, but the entire Loki Sector[10b].
Equipment
Pedro Kantor's weapons include a power fist and Dorn's Arrow, an ancient and venerated storm bolter named after Rogal Dorn, the Primarch of the Imperial Fists (of the same gene-seed line as the Crimson Fists). It is loaded via a back-mounted powered drum feed commonly seen on vehicles, carrying approx. 800 Kraken Pattern Penetrator Rounds. This allows for a faster rate of fire at double that of a standard Storm bolter with marginally improved armour penetration.[4b]
Images
Commander Pedro Kantor miniature[8]
Trivia
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- Pedro Kantor first appeared in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader in 1987, named after "Pete Cantor" - one of the book's contributors.[5]
- Games Workshop did not produce a Pedro Kantor miniature until the 5th Edition of Warhammer 40,000. A tutorial in the UK version of White Dwarf 310 (UK) did explain how to build a Crimson Fist Chapter Master, however.
See also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition Rulebook, pg. 102
- 2: Traitor's Gorge (Novella)
- 2a: Ch. 14
- 3: Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant pg. 84
- 4: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition):
- 5: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 279
- 6: Rynn's World (Novel):
- 7: Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition) (Ebook Edition), pg. 392
- 8: http://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Space-Marine-Chapter-Master-Pedro-Kantor (last accessed 17 April 2015)
- 9: Codex: Space Marines (3rd Edition), pgs. 38–39
- 10: Codex Supplement: Imperial Fists (8th Edition)
