Changes

Towards his death it is clear that he began to regret the incredibly high cost of life in his campaigns, especially the final assault of his career. He had christened the operation "Hell Storm", and may later have come to regret that name, reflecting that he had consigned his men to a "storm of hell." He also had a strong premonition of his own death on Balhaut, perhaps as early as 756, but this did not stop him from prosecuting the assault to the best of his abilities. He did make certain to have a successor chosen as Warmaster, and [[Macaroth]] has proven a worthy heir to the old hero.{{Cite This}}

Early in the Crusade, shortly after the victory on Formal Prime, Slaydo called forty-eight of his officers together for the victory feast. At some point during the festivities, Slaydo became solemn and sad, and when asked what was wrong he replied he was afraid - afraid that he would not live to see the great work done. Slaydo called for a blood oath, and one by one, the assembled officers sliced open their palms with bayonets or table knives and clasped the Warmaster's bloody hand, swearing on their lives that they would continue the work and liberate the Sabbat Worlds, even if Slaydo himself did not live to see it. Slaydo would fall on Balhaut a decade later, just as he had feared^1a.