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I don't know if anyone has put this theory our before, but i may have an idea s to why cypher is so enigmatic (apart from GW wanting a badass, seemingly omniscient anti hero that is above the petty squabbles of the imperium).

I think Cypher's life, and the order of events therein transpire for him in a different order than they do for outside observers. ( like Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction)

After the battle of Caliban, the fallen were sucked into the warp and spread across space and time. What if Cyper's seemingly random appearances, alliances and goals only seem random because in real space chronology it is random. What if the warp storm gave him the ability to travel selectively through time, but only to a point after the original incident that shattered Caliban. The chronology of events in the order that he performed them might make a lot more sense. and if this is the case, it would explain why it seems so random that he helps or hinders different factions according to his own plan. This would either be a function of the Emperor's will guiding him, or Tzeench using him to screw with everyone, depending on your opinion of his loyalties. Also the Ordo Chronos of the inquisition that disappeared could have done so because they figured out what was going on and Cypher killed them.

The strongest argument against this would say that if he was aware of the different chronologies, then he could use knowledge to change the time lines, which would beg the question, why doesn't he just go back to major points and fix them. To this end I supply three possible answers.

1. He doesn't know that the chronologies are different because the power that allows him to do this makes him oblivious to this fact even when confronted with direct evidence.

2. He is in fact using knowledge of history and procedure, the major role of his office in the dark angels legion, to affect the outcomes of something for good or for ill, but he cannot go back and change certain events because they are fixed. (like Dr. Who)

3. He is in fact using knowledge of history and procedure, the major role of his office in the dark angels legion, to affect the outcomes of something for good or for ill, but he chooses not to affect major and cataclysmic events because he is trying to achieve a very specific and meticulously groomed outcome. (leading to the idea of a nigh omniscient knowledge of what is going on, and the idea that he alone can bear the responsibility of producing this specific outcome).

Again this is just a theory, but it could explain a lot of the inconsistencies and vagueness (GW loves this and I frankly find it to be annoying. I personally chalk these situations up to bad or lazy fluff writing being passed off as "create your own adventure so we don't have to") that surround this really awesome and interesting figure.

Hmm but what if your chypher planting a false lead ;-)

As characters go, he is one of the best, and be ruined if they gave away too much, mystery is more compelling.

I love a good fan theory, nice work on thinking outside the box. Cypher is actually Dr. Who! I like that haha

No, not The Doctor, but...The Master!

Well, that would certainly explain how he is able to show up in so many distant places. The idea he may be travelling through time unwittingly could be a major part of his campaign.

It makes me wonder what role the Lion's Sword could play in all this. Perhaps it has some unnatural ability that causes the time travel? Everytime he unsheathes it, he is transported?

See now I want to model a Drop Pod to look like the TARDIS, just to have Cypher jump out (wearing a fez of course).

 Happyjew wrote:
See now I want to model a Drop Pod to look like the TARDIS, just to have Cypher jump out (wearing a fez of course).

I would be more comfortable seeing him in a scarf. Maybe the Chosen could be cute, waifish companions?

I personally believe that cypher is pro emperor, and know ms alot more about the nature of things than most do. So if he is traveling along an alternative chronology he would be able to individually put a bunch of Machenations simultaneously into motion. Which lends itself to that fluff.

Right now, Cypher is just some mysterious dude hopping all over the place with no discernable rhyme or reason.

Quite silly if you ask me. What GW should do is this:

Craft Cypher's actions in such a way that when you string them in one particular manner, it appears that he's trying to achieve Objective X.

But if you string them in another manner, it appears that he's trying to achieve Objective Y, which is the opposite of Objective X.

It's an art, and one that John Grisham has mastered.

It was entertaining the first few times he did it.

I think that idea is awesome. Despite all of the mystery (read lazy fluff writing) I think he has the potential to be possibly the coolest character and a serious tool for plot advancement, a la Fabius Bile, Ahriman, Vulkan Hes'tan, or Eldrad . also Crunch wise, infiltrating him with a squad of purifiers would be pretty awesome.

Limited time travelling is a fresh explanation. He might not be in full control of it, though, or otherwise have a by necessity very strict list of priorities.

Isn't there something in the data slate about him being involved with a time fracture? His C'tan Phase Knife is used to illustrate how he doesn't quite fit into the linear timeline.

I like the theory, it's like the 40k equivalent of Dr.Who or even Quantum Leap.

"And so Cypher finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap... will be the leap to the throne."