Admiral Sarpedon is a Cohort officer and Captain of The Erebos, which is later renamed Seat of the Emperor.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Sarpedon was assigned to The Erebos at least 20 years prior to the events of Harrow the Ninth, and has met Mercymorn once before in that time.
Harrow the Ninth []
Act I []
Mercymorn arrives on The Erebos, and begins the process of loading Harrow and Ianthe into the transport shuttle they will be taking to Mithraeum. Having not received orders, Sarpedon informs her she is not allowed to leave with the new Lyctors. The two argue, Mercymorn claiming he has no right to question her, and Sarpedon claiming that the Emperor needs to remain on his flagship.
The Emperor arrives in the shuttle bay and confirms that the group is departing. As a measure of respect to the Admiral, he renames the ship to the Seat of the Emperor and promises Sarpedon he will be entombed on Mithraeum. Sarpedon is instructed to give the blood necromancer who did the ghost wards a commendation, and then he goes through the launch procedures with the Emperor-- including a prayer. The transport shuttle launches, and Sarpedon remains with the Erebos.
Nona the Ninth[]
After his Lyctors betray him, the Emperor slinks back to the Erebos in a depressed state, willing to “[drown] his sorrows in whatever or whoever comes to hand.”[1] During the interim time, the Emperor likely works closely with Admiral Sarpedon, who is eventually promoted to Grand Admiral. Sarpedon is likely involved with the Cohort’s fight against the devils on Antioch. Before leaving the Erebos to go to New Rho, Ianthe Tridentarius catches Sarpedon (along with other Cohort officials) creeping out of the Emperor’s bedroom.
Appearance and Personality[]
Harrow describes Sarpedon as thus:
"You beheld a man of middling age in a sober Cohort uniform, perennial white jacket and scarlet neckerchief. The two pips on his collar were ringed around with mother-of-pearl. [...] Necromantic vapour rose off him in roiling waves like sweat, unused and impotent in the vacuum of deep space." [2]
Admiral Sarpedon is a confident Captain who is clearly proud of his shuttle and the position he has served for the last two decades. He appears professional, but refuses to bow to Mercymorn's bullying.
Relationships[]
The Emperor[]
"I do not recognise any such frailty in the God who became man, nor the man who became God, nor the Necrolord Prime who may resurrect a galaxy with a gesture."[2]
Sarpedon greatly admires The Emperor, although his relationship has a distinctly military flavor-- treating him more as a venerated general than a God. This professionalism only stretches so far though—in The Emperor’s post-murder depressive episode, he coaxes Sarpedon into a sexual relationship. As the Emperor’s daughter, Kiriona Gaia quickly labels the relationship “nasty!” and “suss.”[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nona the Ninth (Novel) Day 5, Ch. 32
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Harrow the Ninth," Act I, Ch. 6