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For the Warhammer 40,000 fanfic Secret War.

Attelus Kaltos

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/attelus_kaltos_for_tropes.png
I'm not a good person. So tell me, what means more, Marcel? Someone who's inherently good, doing good? Or someone who's inherently evil doing good, despite their ingrained nature?
"I am not a partier. I am an assassin who kills people for a living, and it is the dangerous job it is and that I would quite like to live past my twenties, I spend every waking hour training. Making sure I have the necessary skills to live to see the next day".

A young apprentice assassin whose father, Serghar Kaltos, was perhaps the greatest assassin to ever set up shop in the Calixis Sector. Attelus has to constantly live in his father's shadow. Born and raised in the recently discovered Agri world Elbyra, he is a bit more idealistic and kind than an assassin should be, but this could soon change. He is a chain smoker but, ironically, is strongly against the use of harder drugs.

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     Attelus Kaltos 
  • The Ace: Despite being an apprentice, he is perhaps the best swordsman in an organisation made of amazing swordsmen. His body count is incredible, and that was before he became a Empowered Badass Normal. After that, he was able to kill three Space Marines during their escape from Taryst's tower. In Upon Blood Sands, he's become even more so now being able to fight off three of Taryst's super agents despite at first being unarmed!
  • Action Hero: by the end of Secret War, he has a truly ludicrous body count to his name, which includes three Space Marines
  • Almighty Janitor: Despite being just as skilled (if not more skilled) than his colleagues, he is still a lowly Apprentice. Perhaps justified due to him being recruited far older than most assassins and the extreme experience he was forced to gain when he was a teenager.
  • Alternate Character Interpretation: An in-universe example as quite a few characters have outright questioned his true motives and methods.
  • Always Someone Better: Serghar Kaltos, Glaitis. Hell, almost everyone.
    • Made incredibly plain as day in Upon Blood Sands when Attelus finally fights his father, and it turns out to be the worst Curb-Stomp Battle in the series so far. Serghar is literally able to easily dodge Attelus' rain of rage-fuelled attacks with his eyes closed. Before defeating Attelus with terrifying ease, despite the extensive progress Attelus made as a warrior in the three-year Time Skip between Secret War and Upon Blood Sands.
  • Anti-Villain: Is this while in Taryst's employ.
  • The Apprentice: A subversion as Attelus, while he is an apprentice, is far older than most assassin apprentices (most, including Elandria, would already be a full assassin by twenty-three). But it's obvious to most people except Attelus that Glaitis is grooming him to be her replacement. He already has skill in combat down, but everything else, not so much.
  • The Atoner: The complete destruction of Omnartus being indirectly his fault weighs really heavy on him. And he swore he'd do anything and everything to hunt down the one truly responsible.
  • Ascended Fanboy: Despite his Cynicism he is a huge fan of the Velrosian 1st regiment and its heroes this comes back to bite him in the arse in Upon Blood Sands, as it's his sentimentality toward them that causes him to make a lot of mistakes. Which includes getting himself and his comrades captured not once, but twice.
  • Badass Bookworm: Was this when he was a teenager and even a Child due to the copious amounts of training his father had put him through, but never wanted to be a soldier or an assassin? He wanted to be an Imperial Historian. Now has thrown out most of the bookworm so he can focus more on the Badass. Now being a Throne Agent he's gone back being a bookworm more, shown how he knows of the legend of Cassandra to empathise with her during Upon Blood Sands.
  • Badass Longcoat: He wears one.
  • Berserk Button: Don't steal Attelus' Lhos or betray him, just don't.
  • Blood Knight: Has always been one, right from the start of the story, Elandria saw this. Part of his Character Development is him finally realising this and accepting it.
  • But for Me, It Was Tuesday: A very rare protagonist example, when a Hammer confronted him about killing his brother, he can't remember killing him because over the last six months, he's killed so many, it doesn't help the way he killed his brother was his Signature Move.
  • Break the Cutie: whether Attelus is cute or not is up for interpretation, but to break him mentally seems to be Glaitis' main objective. But so far she is losing.
  • The Cassandra: He even Lampshades this saying this is what she must feel like when he trues to convince the Elbyrans that his father is a fraud and a mass murderer.
  • Catchphrase:
    "Just in Case."
    "Quite depressing, really."
    "The first time in a long time."
    "That's the understatement of the century/Millennium/Millennia."
    "I could hazard a guess."
    "Wish me luck."
    "Why hadn't I thought of that."
    "Is a long and sordid story."
  • Chaotic Neutral: Even lampshaded by Glaitis. invoked
    Glaitis: "I know you, young Attelus, to all but the most educated, you seem...chaotic, strange, random, but you really are not. There is some method to your madness. Some surprisingly sane reasoning as to why, ironically, nothing like your father, who was always as straight and narrow as anyone can get; that is a trait I can admire, one that would help you if you ever meet the requirement of making yourself a full-fledged assassin...That is if you live that long, of course, but for me, it makes you predictable."
  • Chick Magnet: like his father he proves quite popular with the ladies, including Elandria, Karmen Kons, Adelana, some random mercenary woman in Taryst's force, and even Helma shows attraction toward him, even Inquisitor Enandra almost gushes at how 'beautiful' he is. But this is subverted as she quickly reveals he isn't her type, being too 'pretty.'
  • Child Soldier: He's by and far more an assassin and spy than a soldier but he was taught to be a killer by his father from a very early age. In Upon Blood Sands he recalls how even the biggest bullies wouldn't mess with the 'small pale kid' because of his training. It was these skills that allowed him to survive in the ruins of the city of Varander alone. To get supplies to survive, he Single-handedly ambushed and killed chaos patrols as a teenager. This is all a part of a Xanatos Gambit, decades in planning, of course.
  • Cloudcuckoolander: It would be a hell of a lot harder to understand Attelus' actions if they were shown from another character's perspective; it's hard even when it's from his perspective.
  • Combat Pragmatist: Embraces Pragmatism as his whole philosophy, though he sometimes doesn't live up to it. One of the very first things Attelus does is kick a ganger in the shin with a boot knife.
  • Consummate Liar: Zigzagged, one of his sayings is 'the best way to lie is to tell the truth.' So only properly lies when he really needs to. A good example is when someone asks him if he 'knows everything' (meaning all of what's happened leading to their current situation). Attelus knows, of course, but chooses to take it ''literally'', so when he answers, he is telling the truth because he doesn't know everything such as how the universe was created. So he doesn't exhibit any sign of lying.
    • Works well for him normally, until he encounters Inquisitor Draven in Secret War: The Annihilation Plague who is able to easily see through his "not-lies" to a terrifying degree. But, like always, Attelus learns.
  • Dark and Troubled Past: Very much so; the poor guy has been through some horrid things his survival in the ruins of his city Varander as a teenager during a Chaos invasion came at a horrible cost such as severe PTSD, especially from having to resort to cannibalism and losing his much-loved mother to orbital bombardment.
  • Determinator: After being brutally beaten for ages, he still manages to defeat the invisible mimic by smashing an alcohol bottle over its head, identifying where it is by looking at his blood on its fists.
    • Now even more so, though he almost gives up a few times, Attelus still manages to make it to the church despite almost literally running through hell.
    • Just the fact after all the horrific things he's been through hasn't driven him insane or caused him to give up makes him this trope up to eleven.
  • Dirty Coward: Attelus sees himself as one of these, and it's not too far from the truth.
  • Drugs Are Bad: Has this attitude toward combat stimms, refusing to use them due to their side effects and his pragmatism due to the belief if he became too reliant on them, he wouldn't be as effective if caught out without a hit. He's still able to go toe to toe with Elandria when she's high, though.
  • Dude, Where's My Respect?: The poor guy seems to suffer from this constantly taken to eleven in Upon Blood Sands that despite managing to last seventeen minutes in a sparring match against a veteran sergeant Space Marine of the Raven Guard and almost managing to defeat it. The guardsmen who watched still insist on calling him 'fairy boy.' Much to his annoyance.
  • Finishing Each Other's Sentences: Attelus does this to almost everyone, much to the annoyance of Glaitis in particular.
  • Good Scars, Evil Scars: Subverted the scar he sports is on his left cheek given to him by Elandria, which was torn open by a Curb-Stomp Battle he suffered though not long after opening it so it becomes a huge, ugly ragged thing. So bad it gave Commissar Tathe pause. He hides it behind bangs. He could get it covered with false flesh but chooses to keep it as a reminder. It still doesn't stop him from being a Chick Magnet, though.
  • Guile Hero: Sometimes goes over to being a full-fledged Manipulative Bastard. In Upon Blood Sands, he really struggles with his instinct to be this while trying to be Reasonable Authority Figure and fails on a few occasions. This is mostly due to Glaitis' brainwashing, of course.
  • Heroes Prefer Swords: At first, he uses a mono-molecular enhanced blade given to him by his father. But later gets a Master Crafted power sword from Estella Erith/Karmen Kons.
  • Heroic Willpower: Almost the epitome.
  • Heroic Self-Deprecation: Has severe self-esteem issues; takes him a long time to truly realise how good he is at the blade and that he's actually on par with the more experienced Castella and Darrance but is exceptionally arrogant about some other things.
    • This is exemplified especially during the debriefing of their time on Sarkeath early on in Secret War: The Annihilation Plague, where Attelus was easily the most critical of his leadership during that mission. Quite a bit of which were justified. He insisted he should not be placed in charge again due to his mistakes, but mostly because he doesn't like the responsibility.
  • Hidden Depths: So many that even he doesn't know about them.
  • Horrible Judge of Character: He can be really good at understanding some people, but when it comes to understanding women, he has no clue.
  • Hot for Teacher: Attelus is very much into Glaitis, and he didn't even know until Taryst points it out. This is made extra squicky because she isn't just his mother figure, but is three times his age.
  • Hypocrite: He is oh so contemptuous of Taryst's paranoia, but in reality, he is as, if not even more, paranoid than Taryst. Especially after the Twilight Bar incident.
    • More and more so as the series moves on due to his rampant pragmatism, mostly. Firstly he breaks his "no combat stimms" protocol in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands but he was by and far pushed beyond his limits physically and they would've lost if he hadn't, he was well aware of his hypocrisy, though. A smaller example which he seems unaware of is that despite his cynicism toward the 'almighty, awe-inspiring speech' he can pull off a damn good one when he needs to.
    • In Secret War, he derides Glaitis, Karmen and even Brutis Bones for their manipulation of their employees but resorts to said tactics in Upon Blood Sands.
  • Hyperactive Metabolism: thanks to Faleaseen's enhancement she can speed his metabolism to heal his wounds faster, although this power in the 41st millennium can have great drawbacks if he and she aren't careful to hide it.
  • Iam A Humanitarian: Had to resort to cannibalism to survive in the ruins of his home city, Varander as a teenager.
  • Karma Houdini: He has dodged the consequences of many of his actions so far.
  • Made of Iron: Almost literally his wraithbone skeletal structure allows him to shrug off attacks that would cripple or kill a normal human. Hell, he almost literally shrugs off a BOLT ROUND as it bounces off his shoulder-fired AT POINT BLANK RANGE! Although this is subverted as it can't withstand highly penetrative gunfire such as Hellgun shots.
  • Magnetic Hero: To the extent he's able to recruit people around him even after he'd killed their brother and on top of that bought the loyalty and friendship of a Space Marine, but he sure as hell went through hell and back to earn it.
  • Manchild: Although he is 23, he can still act like a child in many circumstances, a fact which he is constantly reminded of by Glaitis.
  • Master Swordsman: Even Castella, who has years of experience over him, says he's better than her.
  • My Greatest Failure: being manipulated into indirectly causing the Exterminatus of Omnartus and the slaughter of its billions of people living on it weighs heavily on the poor bastard, and the guilt is what drives him to fight for good.
  • Kick the Dog: His strangulation of poor Vex... in a fit of paranoia really is this.
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia: Can't remember much of his time living in the ruins of Varander at first, this seems due to severe PTSD, but is later revealed Estella Erith tried to erase it from his mind to prevent him from becoming an assassin.
  • Lightning Bruiser: Especially after his enhancement.
  • Love Makes You Dumb: Not quite "love", but more an unhealthy infatuation with his master Glaitis, which blinded him to how horrible and manipulative she is for a long time. Part of his Character Development in Secret War is to realise this and overcome it.
  • The Leader: He's supposed to be this in the Sequel Secret War: Upon Blood Sands. But is largely struggling in the role. Having resorted to manipulation and lying too often and getting caught out for it. Making him even more of a Hypocrite for earlier deriding Glaitis for using the same tactics. He also let his sentimentality rule over his logic and pragmatism. But as always, he's learning.
  • Nay-Theist: Attelus is a play on one of these; he holds to the belief that the Emperor was a great man rather than a god but subverts it by acknowledging that the gods of Chaos do indeed exist.

    His anti-faith position is becoming stronger due to his increasing bitterness and paranoia, with his distinct contempt for people with "faith."
    • His contempt for faith has died away during his time working for the Inquisition; he still doesn't worship the Emperor or anything, but he recognises the faith of the Adepta Sororitas as having a true effect on the real world, as shown in The Annihilation Plague. He also admits he's too cynical, pessimistic and pragmatically minded to ever be able to be capable of using such power.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: by the end of Secret War he becomes indirectly responsible for the Exterminatus of Omnartus, a Hive world with billions of people living on its surface!
  • Past Experience Nightmare: He suffers these during his injured state. They are basically horrific scenes taken straight out of his past. It is heavily implied that these dreams are actually a test of his willpower.
  • Pretty Boy: Lampshaded to hell and back at Attelus' expense by the Mimic and Karmen Kons. It accuses Attelus of "looking like a girl" and says that he's a hypocrite for claiming to be a Combat Pragmatist but still keeping his hair long, which would obviously be a disadvantage in combat.
  • Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: is very much the sensitive guy to Garrakson's manly man, being unafraid to cry on many occasions.
  • Scars Are Forever: A horrific one is now on his left cheek.
  • Shell-Shocked Veteran: As implied by his nightmares. Outright stated by Torris, who says Attelus still suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
  • Sins of Our Fathers: Attelus is always having to deal with Serghar Kaltos' legacy as one of the greatest assassins to ever work in the Calixis sector.
  • Smoking Is Cool: Subverted. He knows it's a filthy habit, but he can't stop. Also helps with his severe PTSD.
  • Smug Smiler: can be this according to Garrakson.
  • Stealth Expert: Par for the course of being an assassin. His skill in this allowed him to survive as a teenager during the invasion of his homeworld. But compared to the Velrosian scouts in Upon Blood Sands, he struggles to keep up.
  • Super-Reflexes: To such an extent that he can pick up a knife and get into a throwing position before Elandria could even consider pulling a trigger. Even more so later on, after he Took a Level in Badass is able to dodge bullets with inhuman ease.
  • Super-Senses: one of the reasons why he can Dodge the Bullet is because he can sense a millisecond before they pull the trigger, even when they are shooting at his back!
  • Super-Speed: While not nearly as fast as most speedsters, he can sprint twenty metres in a split second. Which for 40k terms is ridiculously fast.

     Rogue Trader Taryst 
The employer of Glaitis' mercenary organisation, so by proxy Attelus Kaltos and Elandria, at the beginning of Secret War. He seems flamboyant and enthusiastic, but it's all a mask that he has a truly dark motive and has long ago been consumed by paranoia.
  • Big Bad Wannabe: It seemed Taryst was being built up as the Big Bad. But it turns out he was anything but.
  • Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: He tries to be, anyway, with his friendly and enthusiastic greeting of Attelus', Elandria, and Garrakson. But the only one who seems charmed is Elandria, as Attelus and Garrakson see straight through it.
    • His reaction to Attelus' rejection of his proposal to join his employment is...telling, and how he threatens Attelus afterwards, again, shows how he exploits his power and wealth.
  • Corrupt Corporate Executive: Being a Rogue Trader that runs a multi-system corporation, he definitely fits into this as he wages the war against Brutis Bones and his impromptu army of Moody Hammers because Brutis' had found out his connections to Inquisitor Edracian, so wanted to hide his involvement.
  • Jerkass: and how! He wields his almost unlimited power and authority with petty abandon shown when it's revealed he made Karmen Kons use her psychic powers to erase the memory of his ex-boyfriend Garrakson just so he didn't have to change the password to his panic room, what was that password? jgarrakson.
  • Killed Offscreen: Assassinated off-screen by the mimic. Only Garrakson seems saddened by his death.
  • Large Ham: When he's first introduced, he steps out from behind curtains and yells, "MY FRIENDS!" so...yeah.

    Taryst's Employees 

Elandria

"Well, if you call me “dear” one more time, you will find yourself sorely lacking a head."

She was recently employed by Glaitis. Though she is the same age as Attelus, she holds the rank of full assassin and is extremely ruthless while at it.

  • Back from the Dead: In Upon Blood Sands it's revealed she's back, but it's not her but her reanimated corpse using the esoteric soul magic of Etuarq. This sends poor Attelus for a six when she shows him her face, despite him already guessing it was her. But it's hinted heavily that some of her consciousness is still in there.
  • Badass Normal: Not so much when high on combat drugs.
  • Berserk Button: The anger she shows when she finds out Glaitis has been keeping secrets from her is pretty scary.
  • Dual Wielding: Uses two mono blades; one named Setsukia, and the other Katrina.
  • Drugs Are Good: Has a liberal use of combat drugs, allowing her to dodge bullets.
  • Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Much to everyone's shock, at first, she could not understand Attelus' actions in the Twilight Bar. She figured that he must have used the people in there as human shields for the Arcoflagellent.
  • Hidden Depths: She isn't as ignorant as she first seems.
  • Innocent Fanservice Girl: Wears a skin-tight bodyglove? Check! Isn't very knowledgeable of human interaction? Check! Insanely hot while at it? Check!
  • Kick the Dog: She emotionally tortures Attelus after his horrific injury at the axes of the Arco Flagellant. Whether she did this of her own accord or under orders is, as yet, unclear, but it certainly confirms that she is more than she initially seems.
  • Out-of-Character Moment: The moment is lampshaded by Attelus' narrative.
    Elandria: So what is it that you improvise now oh you magnificent bastard you?
    I looked over my shoulder at her, shocked. Was that an actual joke? A backhanded compliment, perhaps? Or something else entirely?
  • She-Fu: Justified due to her enthusiastic use of Combat Drugs. Lampshaded by Attelus.
  • Super-Reflexes: Manages to dodge Attelus' shots with her acrobatics.

Jeurat Garrakson

"And kid, if you want to sheath your blade in her, may I suggest using your “other” blade instead."

A senior mercenary of Taryst's organization, he is an ex-guardsman, an explosives expert, and the leader of Elandria's and Attelus' little squad.

  • Berserk Button: Despite them breaking up before the events of Secret War, it's implied that he's still in love with Taryst, so don't mess with Taryst, ever.
  • Cool Old Guy: He's just so laid back.
  • Deadpan Snarker:
    "I don’t know, sir, meaning that they are either still lying in the pools of blood we left them in or in a Magistratum mortuary either/or."
  • Dirty Old Man: The way he teases Attelus for his crush on Elandria makes him seem like this.
  • A Father to His Men: After his and Torris' lecture to Attelus at his bedside, Attelus compares the lecture to those given to him by his own father during his youth.
    • In a dream at the beginning of Secret War: The Annihilation Plague a spectre version of him states it to Attelus, he may've been a personification of Attelus' subconscious, but the evidence of his actions in Secret War before his death speak for themselves.
    That's nice to hear. I wish I could be there to help you so damn much too, kid. Before I died, I wanted to say this, but I didn't get the opportunity to tell you: I loved you; I loved you like a son. You were the son I never had.
  • Gatling Good: Is extremely fond of using an Autocannon when he can.
  • Hidden Depths: He is one of the most upset when he finds out about Attelus' No-Holds-Barred Beatdown on Vex and is far, far smarter than he seems.
  • Killed Off for Real: Dies at the hand of an insane Glaitis but in doing so sacrifices himself to save the others from her wrath.
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia: Taryst had Karmen Kons erase some of Garrakson's memory just to keep the password to his elevator secret. What was the password? Jgarrakson.
  • Obfuscating Stupidity: Anyone who thinks he's a typical Honour Before Reason ex-military type, think again.
  • Large and in Charge: Is the Leader of the group.
  • Manly Gay: Easily the manliest man in the series, who just so happens to be gay.
  • Parental Substitute: For Attelus in Secret War, he was a better father to Attelus than his real one ever was.
  • Punch-Clock Villain: Is a really nice guy but still working for Taryst makes him this.
  • Undying Loyalty: Heavily hinted he's this toward Taryst mostly because he was in love with him. This despite knowing more than most just how much of a [[Jerkass Taryst is]]
  • Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Manly Man to both the more sensitive Torris and Attelus.
  • The Stoic: But it's soon shown that he is Not So Stoic.
  • Technicolor Eyes: He has 'violet eyes, ' something all Cadians are born with.

Marcel Torris

'Torris tilted his head, “like the old times, eh,” he echoed in good humour. “Kid, you may have a very, very long list of issues and character flaws, but despite that, we like ya. For some reason, I can’t think of yet, but maybe we’ll live long enough to figure that out one day.”'

Another senior mercenary under Taryst, Torris, is an ex-Abitrator from Malfi, and one could say the heart of the team. Like Garrakson, he has a dirty sense of humour but is more discerning and observant because of his background.

  • Awesomeness by Analysis: He's so good at reading people. Karmen Kons speculates he is a latent psyker. He's able to even read Eldar!
  • Badass Normal: Perhaps embodies this trope more than anyone else in the series as with his meltagun, he's mortally wounded a Bloodthirster of Khorne in Upon Blood Sands. And in Secret War: The Annihilation Plague, he's responsible for the deaths of, count them, four Plague Marines of Nurgle, a feat no other character, not even Attelus, can claim.
  • Black-and-White Morality: Being former law enforcement, he tends to see the galaxy like this, but his arc in Upon Blood Sands allows him to finally see the shades of grey.
  • Character Development: Gets a character arc in Upon Blood Sands that makes him see the world in shades of grey and even forgives Attelus for his mistakes.
  • Conveniently an Orphan: Being an ex-Adeptus Arbites, he most likely grew up in a Schola Progenium. This is confirmed in a flashback in Upon Blood Sands.
  • Deadpan Snarker:
    “For him to do that, what did you do? Give him a blow job? Must’ve been good; I’m sure you’ve had a hell of a lot of practice.”
  • Large Ham: He can go a bit overboard sometimes.
  • The Big Guy: During the three-year Time Skip, Torris seemed to have inherited this position, becoming very proficient with a Meltagun. It also helps he's a "big guy" in the first place.
  • Those Two Guys: Rarely seen not hanging out with his BFF, Garrakson.
  • Token Minority: Despite being from a hive world, Torris is described as having very dark skin and was the only character described that way until the introduction of Inquisitor Enandra, who's similarly dark-skinned.
  • Shotguns Are Just Better: Is never seen not using one.
  • Scary Black Man: Shows this side to him after Garrakson dies and takes his grief and rage out on Attelus, believing Garrakson's death was due to Attelus' manipulation, which may or may not be the truth.
  • Warrior Therapist: This is a big part of his character in Upon Blood Sands.

Karmen Kons/ Estella Erith

"Vark, she hired me. I was a rogue mercenary psyker. Of course, she's a frigging radical, and of course, I don't mind if she is one. I believe the God-Emperor is above all things, but I also believe that the rules he made during the birth of this Imperium of man were more suited to a different time. I believe that he now understands that much must be done for the continued survival of our species that ten thousand years ago would be deemed wrong."

An exceedingly powerful rogue psyker employed by Taryst who specialises in telepathy but has some skill in other disciplines. Has a past with Attelus.

  • Alliterative Name: Both her names Karmen Kons and Estella Erith.
  • Anti-Hero: She is the utter paragon of pragmatism; even Attelus admits she can go too far.
  • Blessed with Suck: comes naturally with being a psyker.
  • Blue Blood: Was the daughter of a lord of Attelus' home country, Velrosia. She was a sergeant in the local PDF before the invasion from chaos, and her goal in life was to become a scout in the Velrosian 1st regiment. My. How. Things. Change.
  • Canon Immigrant: She was originally from 'Of Thieves and Murderers', an old 40k fanfiction by the same writer.
  • Combat Pragmatist: She's pretty much the embodiment of the dark side of this. And she's a good guy!
  • Crippling Over Specialization: Feels this way when they arrive on the surface of Sarkeath, she finds herself unable to use her psychic power and almost has a breakdown due to this. Thinking she is useless now.
  • Dark and Troubled Past: Survived a horrible war on her homeworld with Attelus and, during that war, lost her whole squad to the depredations of the Blood Pact.
  • Dye Hard: Dyed her hair to blonde from black for her Karmen Kons persona. invoked
  • I Did What I Had to Do: It may as well be her Catchphrase, although she hasn't said it word for word yet.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Karmen can have a very vindictive and petty side to her, especially when it comes to Adelana Helgen especially on Sarkeath due to Chaos corruption but she seems to always overcome it to do the right thing.
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia:
    • One of her specialities. She was even able to do it to Attelus before she even received training. She didn't quite manage it as well as she wanted to, but somehow didn't destroy his mind in the process!
    • Doesn't remember her time training under Farseer Faleaseen due to this. She remembers what she learned, though. ironically.
  • Master Swordswoman: She was one as Estella Erith in the Velrosian martial art: Valisuth but lost much skill when she dedicated her life to honing her sixth sense, or at least she thinks she has.
  • Once Done, Never Forgotten: her controlling the minds of Taryst's mercenaries to fight the Space Marines to cover their escape. While many agree it was needed. Many still think it was wrong. It's what mostly makes Attelus reject her Anguished Declaration of Love being sickened by the act, and it makes it realise how far she can fall. This despite still feeling the same.
  • Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Invoked she slips into her Estella Erith persona her accent becomes more formal and aristocratic.
  • Powered Armor: Gets power armour in Upon Blood Sands. Mostly to protect her when she leaves her body.
  • Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: Was described as this as Estella Erith before dying her hair blonde to become Karmen Kons and is beautiful, of course.
  • Pride: Her greatest flaw, and it almost caused her to throw away her life if Attelus hadn't convinced her to stand down.
  • Sanity Slippage: Like many psykers, she's close to going off the slippery slope. Both she and Attelus have this in common, and both help each other from falling completely.
  • Split Personality: Seems to be fighting an internal battle between her kind but prideful Estella Erith side, against her ruthless mercenary Karmen Kons side.
  • The Stoic: can come off like this sometimes, but she REALLY is Not So Stoic.
  • Walking Spoiler: Almost all her trope explanations have a spoiler tag!
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: She risked destroying Attelus' mind to rid him of his trauma so he could live a normal life. And she sacrificed Taryst's mercenary army to delay the Space Marines allowing their escape.
  • Trauma Conga Line: Not as bad as Attelus, but she's been through hell.
  • Warrior Therapist: well, not exactly a warrior anymore. But she's helped Attelus through some horrible things and vice versa.

Vex Carpompter

"I don't know who had installed the security of Taryst's files, but it is good, very, very, very good, maybe even the best I have ever seen. Maybe it was a priest of the mechanicum that would be the only explanation that I could think of, but I am me and me being me the genius that I am I was able to access some of Taryst's database."

A very young Hacker hired by Taryst to overlook his data security.

  • Badass Bookworm: After Attelus strangles him Garrakson teaches him how to punch and somehow manages to punch Attelus in the face so hard he gets knocked off his feet, this is AFTER Attelus is [[Transhuman enhanced by Faleaseen. But almost breaks his hand in the process]]
  • Canon Immigrant: Like Karmen Kons was also taken from 'Of Thieves and Murderers.'
  • Catchphrase:
    Okie dokie
  • Chekhov's Gunman: Although he's one of the more obvious ones.
  • Improbable Age: He is a master of cogitators on par with many a Tech-Priest despite being only in his mid-teens.
  • Insufferable Genius: Is a genius and knows it. As one may decipher from his quote.
  • Playful Hacker: Pretty much this to a 'T' and could be considered a bit cliche for this.
  • Pride: Is one of the most prideful characters in the story, mostly about his hacking ability.

Major Olinthre

"And for that, I will always be ashamed, I am a coward, Attelus. I should have died in duty along with my comrades, but yet here I am. Working as a soulless mercenary for an ugly and backstabbing corporation that really shouldn't exist, but now it's time to face up like you did with Vex, it's time to finally, truly face up to my mistakes."

The second in command of Taryst's mercenary army. He's charismatic and charming. He is also the the other last survivor of the Cadian regiment Garrakson hails from, being Garrakson's commanding officer.

  • The Casanova: He's described as being exceedingly handsome and good with the women. Too bad he's Killed Off for Real before he can show this, although the when the Mimic masquerades as him, Castella Lethe is quick to hit on him.
  • Chekhov's Gunman: Has a brief mention earlier in the story, but then turns out to be intrinsic to the plot.
  • Good-Looking Privates: Unlike Garrakson, he's somehow left unscarred by conflict.
  • Hidden Depths: His past trauma, and he is one of the first to uncover The Conspiracy by just following a hunch, although he didn't do it alone.

Captain Helma

The senior-most surviving officer left alive in Taryst's organisation by the end of Secret War.
  • Gracefully Demoted: Even though becoming a Throne Agent of the Inquisition might be seen as somewhat of a promotion even from the retinue of an influential Rogue Trader, it's obvious she isn't much more than a soldier in Inquisitor Enandra's organisation, but she really doesn't seem to mind.
  • Jerkass: at first, comes off this way, especially with the condescending way she talked down to Attelus and her willingness to leave Adelana Helgen and her fellow workers behind at the mercy of the Space Marines slaughtering their way through Taryst's tower. But during the three-year time skip between Secret War and Secret War: Upon Blood Sands working for the Inquisition has seemed to humble her and drained away her Jerkass status.
  • Killed Off for Real: Dies in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands, at the hand of a daemon controlled Attelus Kaltos. Made sadder as she'd survived through hell and was starting a relationship with Jelket.
  • Odd Friendship: Develops a strong friendship with Adelana during the Time Skip even though she was more than willing to leave her to die.

Adelana Helgen

A cute, young, red-headed girl who works in the mailroom of Taryst's tower. She's studying to join the local Magistratum. She makes a small appearance midway through the story but plays a big part later on.
  • The Apprentice: Becomes this to Attelus at the end of Secret War, essentially blackmails him to become her teacher despite his insistence he isn't qualified as to be her teacher at all.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: While she is nowhere near the most dangerous character in the story when push comes to shove, she can hold her own. She's a pretty damned good shot with her bolter and, after training, not bad with her Monomolecular-enhanced sword.
    • She can also be quite manipulative when she wants to be, such as how she guilt trips Attelus into accepting her as his apprentice and later in Upon Blood Sands she gives him the ultimatum, that if he uses the Sword of Kalncerack, she'll leave. But she did it out of genuine concern for his well-being.
  • Because You Were Nice to Me: The big reason Attelus saves her from the death of her world.
  • Covert Pervert: In Upon Blood Sands, she is paired with Hayden Tresch, and when walking behind him upstairs, she laments that he's wearing a camo cloak so she can't get a good look at his behind.
  • Dude Magnet: Apparently, quite a few men besides Attelus harbour feelings for her.
  • Driven to Suicide: Comes very close to this at the end of Secret War after learning the truth of the death of her world.
  • Fiery Redhead: Averted, she is unassuming and soft-spoken.
  • The Generic Girl: She's easily the most normal of all the characters; she begins as a student and mailroom attendant to a Throne Agent and Assassin Apprentice in a single day. Her most defining physical trait is her red with blonde streak hair, and her main skill is being able to read others well. But she's nowhere near on the level as Torris.
  • Love Interest: She is definitely the girl Attelus holds the strongest feelings for (besides maybe Elandria). But they haven't gotten together for multiple reasons. The biggest being he's indirectly responsible for the death of her homeworld.
  • Nice Girl: Is genuinely one of the nicest people in the series so far, exemplified in her first appearance when she comforts Attelus after Karmen is horribly injured and being treated by Taryst's medics.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Averted, while she arguably has one of the best reasons to take down Etuarq, as he's responsible for the death of her world but this doesn't stop her from quitting being a frontline Throne Agent at the end of Upon Blood Sands, as it all just became too much for her, and after that utter hell, most of the other characters can't blame her.

Jelket

A low-level mercenary that happens to survive the death of Omnartus out of sheer luck more than much else. Once an Imperial Guardsman, he managed to muster out and joined Taryst's organisation in the hope of an easy life.
  • Conspiracy Theorist: Isn't too over the top with this, but he does get on his ally's nerves with it.
  • Character Development: He has an arc in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands where he overcomes his insecurities and realises his value as a Throne Agent.
  • The Generic Guy: Almost as much as Adelana, but unlike her, this causes him a lot of insecurity.
    • His arc in Upon Blood Sands is to realise he has more value in the organisation than he thought.
  • The Heart: Seems to be shaping up to be this in Upon Blood Sands.

Vark

An elite stormtrooper in Taryst's organisation, he, like Jelket, survived the death of Omnartus due to being in the right place at the right time and also became a soldier in Inquisitor Enandra's organisation. He's very religious.
  • Black-and-White Morality: Due to his religiosity, he is this, but even worse than Torris. Due to this, in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands, he above everyone is against their interaction with the Eldar, much to Attelus' chagrin.
  • The Fundamentalist: Is easily the most religious of the of the Omnartus Incident survivors. So much so when [spoiler: Attelus uses his inhuman abilities in front of him]] he thinks him a Living Saint.
  • Jerkass: Shown strongly in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands when it turns out they have to travel in an Eldar ship through the Webway to reach their destination, but one can't blame him too much for such an attitude due to Imperial brainwashing and humanity's track record with the Xenos, though.
  • Properly Paranoid: His belief that Inquisitor Enandra is anti-ecclesiarchy due to having little interest in partaking in religious worship.

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