Arch Lector Kaslain.[1]
Kaslain was a zealous Warrior Priest of Sigmar and an Arch Lector of Nuln[3a] in the Sigmarite Church.
History[]
Each Grand Theogonist traditionally has two Arch Lectors under his command: tough and astute men who are as home in the Electoral Halls of the Empire's great cities as they are on the battlefield. Arch Lector Kaslain is no exception. When asked if his preference is for civic politics or open war, he invariably chooses the latter, where cracking an enemy's head open and spilling his brains on the ground is seen as a perfectly acceptable way to settle a dispute.[1a]
Kaslain is a tall man and physically strong – mighty enough to wield his symbol of office, the Reikhammer, as its creator intended. The Reikhammer is the brother-weapon to the famed Mace of Helsturm; an heirloom of the cult that is currently in the possession of Kaslain's opposite number, Arch Lector Aglim. Forged by the very first Grand Theogonist, Johann Helsturm, the two magically blessed artefacts have been passed down from generation to generation ever since. In these times of strife, it is rare for either of these great weapons to stay unbloodied for long.[1a]
An Arch Lector must be strong of mind as well as in body. Kaslain is as loyal a supporter as Volkmar could have ever wished for, and his level-headed council has many times saved the Grand Theogonist from teaching impudent Imperial courtiers a lesson with his fists. It is Kaslain's fervent believe in the divine might of Sigmar that makes him such a formidable weapon against the darkness. When his battle rage is upon him, Kaslain exudes a wrath that manifests as an aura of blazing white light, burning away the shrouding shadows that hide his foes from sight.[1a]
The Cursed Fortress[]
Arch Lector Kaslain accompanied the Grand Theogonist and his army on their holy crusade into the dark realm of Sylvania. Here, the Warrior Priest proved instrumental in conquering the dreaded Fort Oberstyre.[1]
When the Sigmarite host reached the fortresses' gate, luminescent ghosts began to circle the spires above. They threatened terrible deaths in shrieking voices as the War Altar of Sigmar was hauled across the gatehouse's mouldering drawbridge. Volkmar paid them no heed. He gestured impatiently for Kaslain to approach the gate. In response, the armoured priest bowed once and unslung a great relic from his back - the Reikhammer; an ancient weapon forged in the dawn of the Empire.[1]
The Arch Lector swung the glowing hammer in a few practice arcs before bringing it round with a roar of effort, two cometary streams of light trailing behind it. The weapon's broad metal head slammed hard into the metre-thick Sylvanian oak of the gate, blasting it to splinters with a deafening boom. A curtain of dust and dried blood cascaded the walls, the zealots below cheering in equal measure. Volkmar gave no more than a curt nod; he had expected nothing less.[1]
The night that the crusaders entered Fort Oberstyre was long and fraught. However, by the time morning arrived, not a single evil soul dwelt within the fortress walls. Oberstyre's centuries-old curse had finally been lifted.[1]
End Times[]
During the events of the End Times, Kaslain rose to become the new Grand Theogonist of the Sigmarite Church, after Volkmar was slain in the ritual to resurrect Nagash. When he took command of the Church, he lead the greater part of his Priesthood northward to aid in the maintaining of the Auric Bastion created by the efforts of Balthasar Gelt. However, when Gelt mistakenly used necromancy in an attempt to foil what he believed was an assassination plot on the Emperor's life, his undead minions killing many generals and officers in the chaos, Grand Theogonist Kaslain felt utterly betrayed, disgusted that the efforts and sacrifice of his priest was in support of a heretical traitor.[2]
When news of Gelts treachery spread across the Empire, the Church officially withdrew their support for the Auric Bastion. In his pride, Kaslain played into the Changelings hands, who orchestrated the whole thing under the guise of Ar-Ulric Emil Valgier. Although the assasination attempt failed, with Gelt's condemnation, the Auric Bastion was gravely discredited as paranoia and hysteria of traitors within the army spread like wild fire. Without the support of the largest Imperial Cult within the Empire, the Auric Bastion grew exceptionally weaker until it finally fell sometime later that year.[2]
Wolf in The Fold (Older Canon)[]
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This article may contain older content that is now considered non-canon.
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"Your impatience is disappointing, Kaslain, and now you will not hear the end of my story. A story which you wrote parts of yourself, although I am writing this chapter, the last chapter in which you appear. I told you that I must confess how I had killed a priest. You are that priest, though I no longer have time to tell you why you must die."
- —The Tilean Wasp last words to Kaslain before killing him.[4a]
During the 24th century Pfeildorf was victim of a series of cattle thefts, it didn't take long before the blame was placed on the wolves and to get rid of it Hugo, a greasy man and the Count's chief castellan and gamekeeper, hired a wolf trapper who was travelling in the city.[4a]
What the castellan could not know is that the hired man was actually a killer known as The Tilean Wasp, who had come to the city to assassinate the count. In any case, in order to get closer to his victim, the killer staged a wolf hunt and it was then that he met the cattle thief, not a wolf but a female werewolf. Fascinated by her mastery in killing her pursuers, the assassin decided to protect her, but nothing could save her from the witch hunters under the command of Arch Lectors Kaslain.[4a]
Swearing revenge, the murderer Tilean plotted a meticulous vendetta. He infiltrated Sigmar's temple in Nuln and after immobilising the Arch Lector he disposed of his fate with his stiletto.[4a]
He eventually returned to the city of Pfeildorf in the guise of Kaslain to conclude his revenge on the Count.[4a]
Miniatures[]
Canon Conflicts[]
In the short story "Wolf in The Fold" by Ben Chessell, Kaslain was killed by The Tilean Wasp, this creates a conflict with the events narrated in The End Times where the arch lector was still alive.