Garviel Loken

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Garviel Loken is a fictional character from Games Workshop's gothic science fiction universe based around the Warhammer 40,000 miniatures game. He is the captain of the 10th Company of the Luna Wolves Legion of Space Marines and one of the main protagonists of the first three books of the Horus Heresy series which are usually told from Loken's perspective. He was also a member of the Mournival.

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History

Horus Rising shows Loken as a respected officer in the Luna Wolves Legion, known for his honesty and dislike for secrecy. Following the death of his comrade Hastur Sejanus captain of the 4th company, Loken is invited to take his place in the Mournival, a group of four of the Legion's captains who act as advisers to Horus, the Primarch of the Legion. Other members of the Mournival included First Captain Ezekyle Abaddon and Captains "Little Horus" Aximand and Tarik Torgaddon.

Loken was not particularly noted for his combat prowess, though this is perhaps due to his own modesty than his lack of ability; as an Astartes captain he was highly skilled with both the boltgun and chainsword. His style of fighting emphasised getting the job done rather than doing so with any great finesse. In one famous incident, Loken bested the great swordsman Lucius of the Emperor's Children Legion in a bout by punching him in the face.

Garviel Loken was unusual in the respect that while he trained in the arts of war like his brothers, he also spent a great deal of time reading books on the history of man as well as other subjects. His friend, Iterator Kyril Sindermann acted as his mentor.

Loken continued to serve in the Mournival for the rest of the Crusade, becoming firm friends with his Mournival brothers, particularly Torgaddon. The Luna Wolves changed their name to the Sons of Horus, in honour of the Warmaster, soon after Loken's induction into the Mournival.

As the Crusade went on, Loken learned of the existence of a warrior lodge within the Legion. The Emperor had forbidden such societies within the Legions and Loken was angered at his Mournival brothers for being associated with it. Torgaddon eventually persuaded Loken not to pursue the matter, though Garviel remained suspicious of the lodge; fearing it may be a source of corruption in the Legion.

In False Gods, Horus was mortally injured on the planet Davin by a xenos-made weapon. Returning the Warmaster to medicae centre on board his flagship, Loken and his men savagely bludgeoned dozens of civilians to death who were blocking their path in attempt to see the Primarch. This act of cold brutality would haunt Loken for the rest of his life.

With conventional means proving fruitless, the lodge insisted that a ritual be performed by the Chaplain Erebus of the Word Bearers in an attempt to save the Primarch. The Mournival was split; Abaddon agreed with the lodge while Aximand reluctantly agreed but not without first pointing out that all of the lodge, Loken and Torgaddon, were not there to give it a fare vote. Loken and Torgaddon were only able to voice their opposition long after the Warmaster had been brought to the temple. After several days the Warmaster was revived.

Following this incident, in Galaxy in Flames, the structure of the Legion changed dramatically. The lodge, now no longer a secret society, was the main governing body of the Legion. The Mournival was no longer a functional entity and only existed as a facade.

This rift in the Legion came to a head over the planet Istvaan III. The planet had declared its independence from the Imperium. In a display of extreme overkill, four Legions were sent to quell the rebellion: The Sons of Horus, the Death Guard, the World Eaters and the Emperor's Children. Even more unusually, the marines chosen for the first wave were picked on a squad by squad basis rather than by companies. Loken and Torgaddon were chosen by the Warmaster to lead the attack.

At first Loken believed that his being chosen to lead the attack was a sign that perhaps all was not lost and the Legion might yet be saved. This hope soon vanished. During the ground assault on Istvaan III, Loken and Torgaddon received a warning from Saul Tarvitz, a captain in the Emperor's Children that the planet was being virus bombed. Such an attack would wipe out every living thing on the planet and could only be ordered by the Warmaster himself.

This act is generally considered the start of the Horus Heresy.

Loken and his men had been betrayed. Acting quickly; Loken, Torgaddon and Tarvitz ordered all Marines to seek shelter. Many survived, but hundreds were caught in the open when the bombs hit.

Traitorous elements of the Legions were sent in after the virus bombs to destroy the survivors, but the loyalists proved difficult to dislodge. Loken and Tarvitz were able to hold off the traitors for months before being betrayed by Lucius.

Loken's apparent last act was to duel with his former brother, Ezekyle Abaddon, in the ruins of Istvaan III. Loken was unwilling to attack Abaddon and spent much of the fight avoiding the enraged attacks of the First Captain.

It was only after seeing Tarik Torgaddon beheaded by the other Mournival Brother, Horus Aximand, that Loken knew that there would be no chance for Abaddon to come back to the light and was able to bring the full force of his blade to bear; though by now it was too late. Abaddon was able to stop Loken's sword from breaching his armour and dealt Garviel a blow that left him unable to stand.

The duel between Abaddon and Loken would be mirrored later in the Heresy in the endgame of the Siege of the Imperial Palace.

As Loken lay bleeding, the parliament building where he hid was crushed by the Dies Irae, an Imperator class Titan. Somehow surviving the collapse, Loken reflects on his position and that of the Imperium. He remained there slowly dying with no hope of rescue. It is implied that he perished here during a final bombardment of the planet by the Warmaster's forces. While Loken's death is not 100% certain it is unlikely that he survived the bombardment.

Dan Abnett, author of the first book as well as the seventh, was asked if Loken was going to return. Abnett's response was, "Aha! I couldn't possibly comment!"