Tesserius Akurduana
Tesserius Akurduana,[1] known as the First Palatine, First Blade of the Two Hundred, and Fulgrim's Firstborn[2a] was a member of the Emperor's Children during the Great Crusade. During his time, he was regarded as perhaps the finest swordsman the Legion ever produced.[1]
History
Born on Terra to the son of a Turkic Battle-King which resisted the Emperor in the Unification Wars, he inducted into the early III Legion. He was one of the original Two Hundred survivors of the Legion's genetic blight presented to Fulgrim upon his rediscovery on Chemos. He wielded the Charnabal Sabres Timur and Athena, forged on Old Earth and was said to have never been scratched in combat in over two hundred years of service. Akurduana sought to exemplify Fulgrim's teachings for perfection in all things, and outside of battle engaged in art, poetry, and calligraphy.[2b] He was highly charismatic and well-liked by common Imperial soldiery for the respect he treated them with.[2c]
During the Fall of the Lords of Gardinaal in the Great Crusade, Akurduana was appointed by Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands to be his own Equerry in order to shame his own Legion into performing better.[2b] During the campaign he advised Ferrus Manus to act more cautiously and diplomatic towards the Gardinaal, in contrast to the Primarch's own desire for a swift overwhelming destruction of the enemy.[2d] As the campaign ground on, Ferrus became frustrated with Akurduana and challenged him to a duel. To the shock of all present, the swordsman lasted against the Primarch for several minutes before being nearly killed. However he then earned Ferrus' eternal respect by laughing in the face of death and fighting with such perfection.[2c]
In the final stages of the war against the Gardinaal, the Imperials were faced with a catastrophic orbital weapon. Akurduana led a small team to the command tower to disable it before it could be fired, sacrificing himself in the process. He was given a full funeral ceremony aboard the Fist of Iron and Ferrus Manus stated that he stayed true until the very end.[2e]
