A towering figure of flesh and machine, Magos Vrax is a relentless pursuer of biomechanical perfection. Known for his ambitious experiments and disregard for Mechanicus orthodoxy, he wagers the mining world of Solon Tertius in the Games to prove the superiority of his augmented creations. Behind his cold logic lies a dangerous obsession with pushing the boundaries of technology, no matter the cost.
Introduction of Tech-Lord Magos Tiberian Vrax
The ambient hum of cogitators and servitor drones fills the grand banquet hall, their presence a reminder of the Mechanicus’s omnipresent influence. Amidst the gathering of esteemed adepts and Magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Magos Vrax approaches a fellow tech-priest. The whirring of his mechadendrites precedes his arrival, his towering frame casting an imposing shadow over the mingling guests. As he begins to speak, bursts of static punctuate his voice, lending an eerie, mechanical authority to his words.
“Observation: Efficiency in congregations such as this is disappointingly suboptimal. Interfacing directly is required to ensure meaningful data exchange.”
Vrax’s mechadendrites flex and adjust as his crimson robe shifts, revealing more of the polished steel that replaces much of his organic frame. His glowing optics lock onto the tech-priest before him.
“Greetings, fellow servant of the Omnissiah. I am Magos Tiberian Vrax of the Aetherion Forge, innovator of the Solon Tertius Project and master of biomechanical augmentation.” A metallic hand gestures with a flourish toward his retinue, each member preoccupied with their own tasks.
“Here, permit me to demonstrate the quality of my instruments. Cipher-Seer Lexa Gryne.” He gestures to the cryptographer standing a step behind him, her glowing augmetic eyes flickering in rhythm with unseen data streams.
“Status report on the Games,” Vrax demands.
Lexa steps forward, her voice a precise monotone:
“Data convergence suggests a 78.4% probability of dominance by R-34N in the forthcoming matches. Statistical anomalies remain negligible.”
“Commendable,” Vrax replies before his focus snaps back to his audience.
“Her algorithms are unparalleled in predictive efficiency—though the true testament to my craft lies elsewhere.”
He motions toward a figure at the far end of the hall, hunched over an intricate mechanical apparatus.
“Behold Klarion Mord, my flesh-artisan. His macroscopic vision complements my systemic innovation. Klarion!”
Klarion turns, his blood-smeared apron a garish contrast to the polished refinement of the room. With a predatory grin, he speaks:
“Ah, Magos. Do inform this esteemed priest how your champion is a masterpiece, nay, a symphony of engineered violence.”
“Indeed,” Vrax replies, cutting Klarion’s macabre enthusiasm short. “R-34N, the Augmented Reaper, is the culmination of my life’s work. His every movement, every calculated strike, is the product of biomechanical perfection. No inefficiency. No failure. And, dare I say, no equal.”
Vrax leans closer, his optics glowing brighter.
“Query: How many others in this hall can boast of such precision? Such mastery? The Games are my crucible, where theoretical innovation is tempered by the fires of combat. I ask you, colleague—what innovations have you wrought that merit such a stage? Do they surpass even this?”
A brief pause, the faint hum of his mechadendrites filling the silence.
“Let us discuss collaboration—or competition—after you have witnessed the Reaper in action. Though,” his tone shifts to a barely perceptible mockery, “I trust you are prepared for the humbling revelation of inadequacy.”
Without waiting for a reply, Vrax turns to Lexa.
“Cipher-Seer, prepare a detailed record of tonight’s discussions. Extrapolate potential allies and rivals.”
“Yes, Magos,” Lexa responds, her glowing eyes flickering as she activates her data-slate.
Klarion chuckles softly, the sound unsettling in its glee.
“Oh, how delightful this will be. Shall I schedule the post-Games dissection for their combatants, Magos?”
“Silence,” Vrax commands. “Focus on maintaining the Reaper’s peak operational parameters.”
As the interaction concludes, Magos Vrax turns back to the tech-priest, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone.
“Remember: in the calculus of innovation, the Omnissiah rewards not tradition, but results. Shall we witness yours?”
With a final mechanical nod, Vrax strides away, leaving the impression of a man—or machine—driven not by faith, but by a relentless hunger for perfection.
Magos Tiberian Vrax, Tech-Lord of Aetherion Forge
- Appearance: A towering amalgamation of flesh and machine, Magos Vrax’s form is a mechanical marvel. His humanoid frame is augmented with whirring cogs, glowing cables, and a cluster of mechadendrites that snake out from his back. His crimson Mechanicus robes barely conceal the gleaming metal of his augmetics, and his voice, distorted by bursts of static, is devoid of warmth.
- Personality: Vrax is driven by an insatiable thirst for innovation, his cold logic masking a dangerous disregard for Mechanicus dogma. He claims his attendance at the Games is for “data acquisition,” but his true goal is to connect with like-minded inventors who share his obsession with pushing technological boundaries.
- High Stakes: Vrax has placed Solon Tertius, a thriving mining world on the border of the Ryza sub-sector, as his wager in the Games. Rich in rare minerals essential for Imperial war production, Solon Tertius is a highly valuable asset, making Vrax’s gamble a statement of confidence in his experiments.
- Dark Secret: Vrax’s experiments venture into forbidden territory, fusing xenos-derived technology with Imperial augments. The Games offer a testing ground for his augmented champion and an opportunity to identify allies—or rivals—among the inventors and tinkerers drawn to the spectacle.
Members of His Retinue
Ardent Lexa Gryne, Cipher-Seer
- Role: Cryptographer and Statistical Advisor.
- Appearance: Cloaked in flowing green robes adorned with subtle Mechanicus sigils, Lexa’s face is dominated by her glowing augmetic eyes, which flicker with shifting patterns of data streams. Her every movement is precise, like a living algorithm.
- Personality: Lexa is calm and methodical, offering Vrax calculations and predictions on gladiatorial outcomes with eerie accuracy. Beneath her collected exterior lies a relentless drive for precision, which verges on obsession.
- Dark Secret: Lexa’s calculations are being subtly influenced by her own subconscious fascination with the forbidden. Unknowingly, her predictions align with Vrax’s hidden agenda, steering him toward potential collaborators in the Games.
Klarion Mord, Flesh-Artisan
- Role: Biomechanical Surgeon and Gladiator Modifier.
- Appearance: A wiry, hunched figure clad in a blood-smeared apron, Klarion’s long, skeletal fingers are equipped with surgical tools. His unsettling smile and gleaming augmetic lenses give him the appearance of a predator circling prey.
- Personality: Klarion views the human body as a canvas for biomechanical artistry. His macabre sense of humor and depraved fascination with pain make him both unsettling and indispensable to Vrax’s experiments.
- Dark Secret: Klarion is deeply complicit in Vrax’s forbidden experiments, helping to integrate xenos technologies into their creations. He relishes the Games as an opportunity to refine his craft and scout new “materials” for his grotesque art.
Champion Fighting for Magos Vrax
- Name: R-34N “The Augmented Reaper”
- Role: Cybernetic Gladiator and Test Subject.
- Appearance: R-34N is a hulking figure of reinforced muscle and machinery. His cybernetic limbs are designed for raw power, and his skull-like mask hides the remaining organic parts of his face. His weapons include a massive chainaxe and an inbuilt plasma caster.
- Backstory: Once a promising Imperial Guardsman, R-34N was mortally wounded and “rescued” by Klarion. Rebuilt as a biomechanical war machine, R-34N is Vrax’s ultimate test subject, engineered to push the limits of augmented combat.
- Dark Secret: R-34N’s augments include xenos-derived components that enhance his combat efficiency but erode his humanity. He struggles with flashes of alien instincts and memories, leaving him in an internal battle for his soul.
Demeanor of the Retinue
Vrax’s retinue moves with cold, clinical efficiency, each member fulfilling their role with mechanical precision. Their lack of emotion creates an unnerving aura, while their fascination with the Games is less about the spectacle and more about dissecting the limits of human and augmented endurance. Beneath the surface, an obsessive pursuit of forbidden knowledge binds them together.
General Description of the Retinue
- Skitarri Escorts: Six Skitarri Vanguard soldiers with glowing visors and powerful energy weapons guard Vrax at all times, moving in perfect synchronization.
- Data-Adepts: Three hooded adepts monitor the Games, processing vast streams of data and feeding insights to Vrax in real time.
- Servitors: Four lobotomized servitors haul equipment and act as living tools for Klarion’s surgeries and modifications.
- Logistician: A single adept coordinates the retinue’s movements and ensures the flawless functioning of their operations.
The Hidden Truth
The wager of Solon Tertius is a calculated gamble that aligns with Vrax’s ambition to cement his reputation as a visionary. Beneath this ambition lies a deeper agenda: the Games serve as a proving ground for Vrax’s forbidden experiments and a chance to recruit—or eliminate—potential rivals in the field of innovation. As R-34N fights in the arena, his struggles reflect the broader risks of Vrax’s work: the fine line between genius and heresy. Through Lexa’s calculations, Klarion’s grotesque artistry, and the champion’s alien-fueled might, Vrax edges closer to discovery, his dark genius drawing the attention of both allies and enemies alike.
Ignis Aeternus WH 40K campaign notes 