Saul Tarvitz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, Saul Tarvitz is a captain of the Emperor's Children Legion of Space Marines, prior to the Horus Heresy.
[edit] History
In the novel Horus Rising, Tarvitz is depicted as a loyal veteran Space Marine of the Imperium of Man. Like his friend Lucius (later Lucius the Eternal), Tarvitz is a Captain of the Emperor's Children Legion. Where Lucius is childish and egotistical, Tarvitz is mature and grounded; while Lucius changes throughout the series, Tarvitz does not. Tarvitz's ultimately loses faith in the Legion's creed of 'martial and moral perfection' and moves towards fellow marines who share his views, such as Garviel Loken and Tarik Torgaddon of the Luna Wolves Legion. Tarvitz discovers a dark secret: Apothecary Fabius, a high-ranking Emperor's Children officer, is deliberately altering the Legion's gene-seed. Tarvitz sees this action as heretical, and refuses to be involved. He is subsequently marked as a traitor by Lord Commander Eidolon.
Tarvitz's purported death is detailed Istavaan III incident in the novel, Galaxy in Flames. Alongside Lucius, Tarvitz leads the surviving Loyalists in a desperate effort to repulse the traitor forces. Lucius comes to resent Tarvitz's success and envies him the respect he commands from the men. Lucius contacts Lord Commander Eidolon of the traitor Emperor's Children, promising to deliver Tarvitz - and the Imperial position - to the Warmaster's, in exchange for rejoining the Legion. During an attempt to outflank the attackers, Tarvitz finds Lucius and is challenged to single combat. Tarvitz emerges the victor after an intense duel, forcing Lucius to flee. Tarvitz leads a successful flank attack on the Emperor's Children.
The Warmaster, realizing how many Astartes he is losing, withdraws his troops and bombs the surface. Tarvitz and his forces are in the palace as this happens. They realise the futility of seeking shelter, and are presumed dead to a man. In the novel 'Fulgrim', however, Lucius tells Lord Commander Eidolon that the Dreadnought, Ancient Rylanor, was sent by Tarvitz to guard an ancient hangar in the depths of the Precentor's Palace (p.429). This implies a possible escape for Tarvitz, either in the form of an underground refuge, or in a ship/ships to carry him and his survivors from the planet's surface. There is nothing to suggest, however, Tarvitz and his men followed Rylanor before the the bombardment, although there is nothing to discount the possibility either. Lucius and Eidolon, for their part, seem certain that none survive the Warmaster's final assault.
Tarvitz appears in Horus Rising, Galaxy in Flames, Flight of the Eisenstein, and Fulgrim. This makes him one of the most appearing characters in the series, aside from Horus, Loken, Torgaddon, Vipus, and Keeler.
It is interesting to note that between Fulgrim, Flight of the Eisenstein and Galaxy in Flames, Tarvitz is depicted as First Captain in the two latter, while in Fulgrim, he has taken on the role of Tenth Captain. The reasons for this conflict has yet to be explained.
[edit] Weapons and abilities
Tarvitz is a file officer, and proud of it, not aspiring to anything higher. He is, however, an extremely competent commander and had respect from all of the men that followed him.
Tarvitz is armed with a Powered Broadsword, as well as a standard issue Space Marine bolter and a combat shield.
