Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt

The GRIMDARK Sharpe to Cain's Flashman. Stars in the series of books written by the God-Like author Dan Abnett about the Tanith First (And Only) Regiment. Nobody knows why he shares his last name with a species of Tyranid. Perhaps he is so goddamn badass that he fought a Hormagaunt three seconds after he was born, tore it in half, and wore its head as a hat. This is a distinct possibility.

Perhaps one of the best characters in the 40k fluff because he acts like a decent person trying his hardest in the bleakest setting possible and not losing hold of his morals or conviction. Lesser authors in the Black Library wish they could make such a well rounded and kick ass character like Gaunt for their books.

Origins of the Tanith First (And Only)

After Tanith was selected by the Warmaster to create Three new regiments, the planet was plunged into a party the likes of which none (save Slaanesh) had ever seen before. The massive party was noticed by a wandering Chaos Armada, whose ass was recently kicked. Angry, the Chaos Armada destroyed most of the planet. Ibram Gaunt then had to make a painful decision: he would take what forces were available and leave the planet, allowing the destruction of Tanith. His troops at first don't understand why he did this, and resent him for it. Eventually, they forgive him (ok no not really).

Items of Significant Importance

1. One of the Tanith Guardsmen named Rawne tries to kill Gaunt many times. The first time, Gaunt KO's his ass when there's a demo charge about to go off, and instead of leaving him there or *BLAM*ing his ass he risks his life to carry him out. (Also to note is the fact that later Rawne becomes the defacto second in command and takes over field command while Gaunt went on a short vacation with the 'friendly' neighborhood torturers)

2. Gaunt is one of the only men ever to achieve the rank of Colonel-Commissar giving him EPIC status. (However, his mentor was mentioned to be General-Commissar, making even more EPIC!)

3. To further elevate his awesomeness he found a STC that was INTACT but had to be destroyed because it was tainted by Chaos (Motherfuckers!). Everything was alright though, given it was heretical tech to begin with.

4. Gaunt's favorite weapon is a power sword that CAN SLICE THROUGH ANYTHING!!!!!! Gaunt kills TANKS with IT!!!!!! - The weapon is the heirloom sword of Heironymo Sondar, the original leader (or one of them) of Vervunhive, the sword is of antique design and probably hails from when the Emperor walks around. Therefore it deserves it's AWESOME status. He also has an old Bolt pistol that always seems to be running out of ammo, but it's ok because then he just switches to his POWERSWOARD!

5. Gaunt's trademark item is a Tanith Camo-cloak, which he made himself to better lead his regiment of Scottish Ninja Assassins, making him the only Commissar EVER capable of INFILTRATION. (actually not only, since Lord Commissars in Codex: IG can also take stealthpants, but the only NAMED)

6. He also loves to charge enemies firing double bolt pistols. As well as fight multiple Chaos Marines at once with nothing but his power sword. He can do this because Gaunt is almost as badass as Ciaphas Cain is (Cain having taken on the same with a chainsword and flashlightpistol)

7. Gaunt led a unit that killed a Giant Battleship-Pyramid-Tank that would've given most Titans a run for their money.

8. Before setting off to destroy said Giant Battleship-Pyramid-Tank, he TAPPED THAT! WITH A PRINCESS! HEEELLL YEEEAAA! (Knocked her up good too)(And is now tapping her clone too)

9. When all the senior Vervunhive commanders were killed, Gaunt was the only ranking military officer left alive to coordinate the defense of an entire hive city under siege by Chaos forces on all sides. For many commanders, this task would be flaming-pants-on-head overwhelming, to say the least, but Gaunt just sighs and resigns himself to spend the rest of the day calling out orders; reorganizing thousands of demoralized soldiers and shattered armor over the vox, and effectively holding off AN ENTIRE CHAOS army. We get a glimpse of the strategist that Gaunt could be if Command ever gave him the time of day. After the battle, do Gaunt and Co. get medals of honor and gold statues? A Day named after him? A fucking commemorative plaque?? no. Not A Single Fucking Medal Was Given That Day. The Tanith are 'allowed' to absorb the remaining Vervunhivers to reinforce their dwindling ranks, and Gaunt's Ghost are again rushed off to yet another battlefield.

10. Gaunt has never had to BLAM his own troops. He has, on several different occasions, BLAMMED troops of other units.

11. ~~Two~~ THREE different Inquisitors have tried taking Gaunt on. One ended up MINDFUCKED and the other was kidnapped/recruited by the Eldar. And the last turned out to be a Chaos specialist of some kind.

12. Gaunt has carried more wounded Imperial Guard troops off the field of battle than a medivac Valkyrie. And he's a commissar. Enough said.

13. Gaunt and Co. were stranded on a Chaos held world for a sizable stretch of time. Gaunt and Co. return to the Imperium untainted. Apparently simply telling the insidious cancer of Chaos to FUCK OFF actually works... as long as you are Colonel Commissar IBRAM FUCKING GAUNT.

14. During His time on said Chaos world. HE TAPPED THAT AGAIN! WITH A HOT LOYALIST REBEL LEADER! YEEEEEAAAAH!

15. Gaunt and Co. are the favored regiment/and have acted as the honor guard, of a reborn Living Saint. It's like fucking having Satan as a best friend in real life!

16. Gaunt's eyes were seared off by cultists when he was captured once. The asswipe Battlegroup General who sent him and his men on the mission that lead to this felt so guilty that he paid the best techmagi to give Gaunt bionic eyes. Which look like regular eyes but now allow him to see into the infrared spectrum. YES, he can stealth/infiltrate, he has a blade, and a hightech range weapon (bolt pistol). FUCK. YEAH.

17. Gaunt was an HQ choice in 4th edition, making his men Fearless (and thus not being the big, bad, executing type). His metal mini can still be found on the Games Workshop website (or Ebay), as well as a smattering of other characters from the Tanith 1st.

18. By taking all accounts in all the novels to be true, he has cut down enough chaos loving cultists to fill several armies several times over. Seriously the body count done by this man is insane. Kharn would buy him a drink and ask him to join his homies if he could.

Books that include Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt (All by Dan Abnett)

The Founding

First & Only, Ghostmaker, Necropolis

The Saint

Honour Guard, The Guns of Tanith, Straight Silver, Sabbat Martyr

The Lost

Traitor General, His Last Command, The Armour of Contempt

+Only in Death

The Victory

+Blood Pact, Salvation's Reach, Warmaster

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