In the ancient but vibrant Dawn Dynasty, a patriarch of icy temperament yet warm heart took in a child. Though the dynasty had seen many moons, the patriarch was still a formidable warrior. The child was none other than Rogal Dorn, whom the patriarch raised as his own grandson. He taught young Rogal the art of tactics, strategy, and diplomacy, all against a backdrop of harsh reality. The patriarch’s kindness and love for Rogal earned him an eternal place in the Primarch’s heart.
According to some accounts, Dorn valued his adoptive grandfather’s memory so profoundly that he always kept a fur-trimmed cloak that once belonged to the old patriarch. Whenever Dorn donned this cloak, it is believed, he found solace on restless nights, providing a sense of home and warmth that helped him sleep.
Dorn’s innate talents enabled him to push the boundaries of the empire further than anyone before him. The Primarch crafted armies, constructed unprecedented starships, and even tamed silent relics of antiquity that hovered in orbit around Inwit. Forty standard years after the patriarch’s death, ships of the Great Crusade descended upon Inwit. The Master of Mankind discovered not only a lost son but an entire star system, already a ready-made instrument of war.
The first meeting between the Emperor and Rogal Dorn took place on the Command Deck of the colossal spacecraft, Falank. Rogal intentionally selected the orbital fortress for the meeting, wanting to demonstrate that all his military resources, and himself, were ready to serve the Imperium loyally. The Emperor greeted Dorn as a long-lost son and returned control of the Falanks to the Primarch.
The Emperor saw the massive battle station, capable of warp travel, as the perfect Fortress for the Seventh Legion. From that moment, Rogal Dorn became his devoted companion and protector. He never sought favor or praise, and he acted only for the benefit of others. This quality earned him a statue in the capital of the Ultramar realm, Mcra.
Upon entering the Emperor’s service, the Primarch of the 7th Legion led his fleet’s expedition with unparalleled loyalty and fervor. Dorn was a cautious and calculating commander, yet capable of bursts of inspiration and terrifying when angry. The Imperial Fists Legion recognized these qualities in their genetic father the day they met him.
Dorn remained silent when he first saw his Space Marines, even when the Legion’s Chapter Master, Matias, knelt before him and pledged his oath. Only after seeing his Space Marines in battle did Dorn break his formidable silence. He thanked Matias for his service and appointed him as the High Castellan of the Inwit system.
For the next 16 standard decades, the Astartes of the Seventh Legion fought at the forefront of the Great Crusade, relentlessly advancing from one war zone to another. The Master of Mankind bestowed upon Rogal Dorn armor of the same alloy of orite and adamantium from which his own was made. Dorn’s image was completed by a red cloak made of heavy velvet, giving him a distinct resemblance to the Warriors of the Custodes. His favored weapon was a massive chainsword known as the Storm’s Teeth. This blade, too heavy for any other Primarch, was forged on Inwit long before the Emperor’s arrival and could easily cleave through flesh, stone, and iron.
Stay tuned for the next part of this series, where we delve deeper into the life and legacy of Rogal Dorn, the Primarch of the 7th Legion.
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