Name: Helios
Age: 214
Chapter of Origin: Iron Snakes
Type of Marine: Apothecary
Personality: Helios is blunt, yet open, hiding nothing and wearing everything on the outside, cautious around those who are secretive and play everything close to their chests. Courage and honour are admirable virtues, though Helios himself is more pragmatic, idealism having no place within his core, and will do whatever must be done to achieve his objectives. In combat he is cool headed, analytical and methodical, traits carried over from his role as an apothecary, never throwing himself into combat for glory or from anger. Some have said that from this he lacks the passion that often makes legends and heroes, but he cares not, as long as the mission is achieved.
Physical Appearance: Lean, as far as the word can be used to describe an astartes, Helios though still superhumanly large and a demi-god like figure to the average man, is nevertheless markedly less bulky than the average marine. With pale skin like most of the chapter, his eyes stand out, the same blue-green of the oceans of Ithaka, a common pigment among the populace, seen as a good omen amongst their beliefs. An elaborate tattoo of a great Water Wyrm starts at the centre of his neck, coiling around to the his nape, before rising up above his ear, terminating in it's wide jaws, spread wide as if to swallow his left eye whole.
Background: Born on the ocean world of Ithaka, Helios was trained from his earliest days to take the trials of the Iron Snakes. His childhood was spent swimming in the sacred, yet lethal oceans, fighting or outwitting the indigenous predators of the island jungles and even sent on the gruelling expeditions to the polar caps. When the time came, he competed against the other aspirants and passed the trials set out for them. He was then taken from the Cradle of Snakes to the fortress monastery on the moon of Karybdis to begin his transformation into an astartes. Unlike other chapters, he never took up the role of a scout or neophyte, instead he was inducted into the phratry as a petitioner to serve and attend to the full battle brothers. In his case he was assigned to the rather sizeable apothecarian.
Four squads arrived back from a particularly gruelling campaign against the Orks and required petitioners to fill the voids left by fallen brothers. Helios was thrown into combat, after combat against his fellows, all of them fiercely fighting for a place within the ranks of the phratry, in particular for a position within squad Parthus, one of the notables, the closest thing the Iron Snakes have to veterans. Helios pragmatic and surgical approach to combat served him well, using his knowledge from the apothecaries to aim for vital organs, pressure points and vulnerable areas. He won the vast majority of his bouts and Sergeant Parthus himself congratulated the top fighters, including Helios, on their skill. He was not chosen to take a place in the notable squad however, instead joining the honourable squad Aegis, taking the place of their fallen apothecary. He did not feel besmirched by his omission to Parthus, but honoured instead to have been noted by the Sergeant. The final stages were carried out to elevate him to an astartes proper and he forged a new life with Aegis.
Through their defence of the Reef Stars, Helios has a long and violent history with the Dark Eldar in particular, their raiders often falling upon the worlds under the protection of the Iron Snakes, Aegis having been deployed numerous times on separate undertakings to answer the pleas for aid sent by worlds under the phratrys protection. His experience has not been limited to just the Dark Eldar, Orks being another common foe within the Reef Stars. The servants of Chaos also making their presence known from time to time, often when least expected. For two centuries, Helios has fought with, bled with and healed his brothers within Aegis, always ready to lend his advice and council to the Sergeant and any who should need it.
The near constant skirmishes and campaigns against the Dark Eldar and occasionally the Orks have led to the Iron Snakes routinely committing battle brothers to the service of the Ordo Xenos, as their chamber militant in the Death Watch. In 848, Helios was seconded to the Ordo, his experience and skill against the xenos and skills as an apothecary having been noted by the Inquisition over time.
Armour Appearance: Helios is equipped with a standard suit of MkVII 'Aquila' armour. His helmet is specially equipped with extra sensors read outs and auto-senses to better assist them in treating the wounded. His right forearm is equipped with the bulky and complex Narthecium, containing all the tools needed to carry out his duties as an apothecary. His right shoulder pad and knee pad are emblazoned with the arterial red prime helix, his badge of office, his helmet painted white for the same reason. His left pad proudly displaying the heraldry of the Iron Snakes. His armour is painted in the colours of his chapter for the time being, though will soon be repainted to match that of the Death Watch.
Weapons and Equipment: Narthecium, bolter, bolt pistol, combat knife, specialist ammo, frag and krak grenades. He also carries a simple copper flask, containing water from the sacred oceans of Ithaka, used to carry out the ritual called the Rite of Giving Water, to anoint any planet he should set foot on.
