Brother Deucalion of the Brazen Claws

Brother Deucalion knelt, head bowed in prayer and breathed deeply of the sacred incense. Brother Chaplain Icadius stood over Deucalion, his voice booming the Prayer for Safe Return. As Icadius chanted Deucalion couldn't help thinking of the last warrior to go through this ceremony. Veteran Sergeant Rhadamanthys. Nothing had been heard of his old comrade since he stepped aboard the shuttle that took him to the Inquisitorial ship hanging over Coriolis, homeworld of the Brazen Claws.

Memories of Rhadamanthys flooded back, their time together in the Scout Company, their promotion to full Battle Brother and posting to the 7 th Company after a hard fought action on Hiryu. Mostly though, Deucalion remembered Kasr Partox, where Rhadamanthys, by then a Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Euripides of the Scions of Dorn had led a mixed force of Guardsmen and Marines in an epic campaign against the forces of Abbadon the Despoiler's 13 th Black Crusade.

Icadius' chant ceased and with a final swing of his censer, he stepped back, revealing the form of Captain Pterelaus. The Captain stepped through the holy smoke, arms cradling a satin shrouded object.

‘Deucalion, Veteran Brother of the Brazen Claws, this day you leave us. The Deathwatch, Warriors of the Ordo Xenos of His Most Holy Inquisition have summoned you to join them.'

As Pterelaus spoke the last of the incense dispersed and Deucalion saw Chaplain Icadius remove the black cloth from the object Pterelaus carried. He smiled as he saw a Procyon pattern chainsword, longer than the usual chainsword and set with Adamantium teeth on both sides. Deucalion looked at Pterelaus questioningly, Procyon chainswords were rare among the Brazen Claws, dating back as they did to the time of the Horus Heresy and were only carried by the Chapter's greatest heroes. Pterelaus smiled back at him and nodded encouragingly.

‘Take it Deucalion. You have earned it with this summons to serve the Deathwatch, as Sergeant Rhadamanthys earned his with his induction into the Legio Bolter and Chainsword.'

Deucalion reached out gingerly, his hand hovered over the handle of the sword for a moment before he grasped the leather bound hilt. Icadius stepped forward as Deucalion hefted the blade, making the sign of the Aquila as he did so. With a few solemn words in High Gothic he blessed the weapon then turned and left, leaving Deucalion alone with his Captain.

‘Remember Deucalion, you serve the Deathwatch now, not the Brazen Claws. Follow your new Captain's orders as you have mine and you will bring us much honour.'

The Captain too, turned and left, leaving Deucalion alone in the Reclusiam. Soon the Deathwatch would arrive and he would begin his decade long service with them...